A U.S. official told Axios, 'Netanyahu has turned over the last two years into a global pariah. He should ask himself why Egypt's al-Sisi refuses to meet him and why, five years after the Abraham Accords, he still hasn't been invited to visit the UAE'

Netanyahu knew full well when he submitted his request that it had no merit, but he judged it would spark a public debate in which even opponents of the pardon would treat it as a legitimate request. He judged correctly