Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a sharply worded public attack against Tel Aviv's state prosecutors on Thursday on the bribery case trial against him. In an English-language video posted, he slammed the prosecutors, and alleged that the corruption cases against him were farcical, a "political trial" designed to remove him from power.

The message, posted days after he formally sought a presidential pardon, was framed as a response to questions he said he had received from international audiences about the nature of the charges.

Netanyahu is standing trial in three cases: bribery in Case 4000 and fraud and breach of trust in Cases 1000 and 2000, though he has consistently denied all charges.

In the video, he dismissed the core bribery accusation — that he received favourable media coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits — as "absurd," calling it a baseless charge which had no existing precedent.

"I'm accused of receiving favourable press coverage from a second-rate internet site," he said. "In 250 years of liberal democracy, no one has been accused of receiving favourable press coverage as a crime."

He added that the claim was contradicted by reality. "It turns out I didn't get favourable press coverage. I got unfavourable press coverage… the most hateful, antagonistic, negative press coverage you can imagine in Israel."

The Israeli premier also claimed that the trial judges had encouraged prosecutors to drop the bribery case two years ago, adding that state attorneys refused because "they're not interested in justice. They're interested in getting me out of office."

Mocking portions of the cross-examination process, Netanyahu recounted that prosecutors had questioned him over a toy given to his son decades ago.

"They said, Prime Minister, 29 years ago your son received a Bugs Bunny doll. From now on this trial will be known as the Bugs Bunny trial. And you also received cigars from a friend. That's what I'm being charged with."

Calling the proceedings "a farce," he said they had tied up years of his time and attention. "Six years of bogus investigations on these idiotic charges," he said. "The trial has now been going on for four years, and it's expected to go on for another two to three. I have to go three times a week, eight hours a day, to discuss this nonsense."

He argued that the ongoing case – which he deems ludicrous - is hindering him from focusing on issues of national importance, remarking "There are peace treaties to get. There's AI and other technologies that could change Israel, could change the Middle East. I can't deal with that."

Netanyahu further confirmed his request for presidential clemency, stating, "They asked for a pardon. I ask for a pardon, okay? And we'll see if it comes out."

The request, submitted to President Isaac Herzog via Netanyahu's attorney, has been forwarded to the President's Residence legal department for review as the long-running trial continues to fuel political and public scrutiny.