Thirty Israeli lawmakers are seeking a presidential pardon for Ariel Sharon’s jailed son Omri.
The Knesset members, including six Cabinet ministers, signed a petition this week calling on President Shimon Peres to grant clemency to Omri Sharon, a former Likud Party lawmaker who is serving a seven-month prison term for elections fraud.
Legal analysts have described the sentence as unprecedented in its severity. The petitioners argued that Sharon has been excessively punished and that his incarceration could lead to a deterioration in the condition of his father, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma for two years.
Omri Sharon was quoted as saying that he had nothing to do with organizing the petition but would not be opposed to a pardon. Peres had no immediate comment.
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