Justice Minister Daniel Friedman on Sunday morning told President Shimon Peres that he does not see any reason for the president to pardon Omri Sharon, who is serving a prison sentence following an election funding fraud conviction.

The son of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has already served three months of his seven-month sentence.

Friedman stated that circumstances surrounding the case do not point to any reason why the younger Sharon should receive a presidential pardon to permit his early release from prison.

While Mr. Peres is not compelled to adhere to the senior minister’s recommendation, most analysts view this decision by Freidman as a ‘way out’ for Peres to not grant Sharon a pardon at this time, a move that would undoubtedly result in a political storm.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)