Herzog will not grant Netanyahu a presidential pardon – report

Despite heavy pressure from Donald Trump, Israel’s president reportedly plans to withhold pardon for Netanyahu and will instead push for mediation aimed at reaching a plea bargain.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Isaac Herzog does not plan to immediately approve or reject Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon in his corruption trial, according to two senior Israeli officials.

Instead, Herzog is planning on initiating a mediation process aimed at reaching a plea deal between Netanyahu and state prosecutors.

The officials told The New York Times in a report published on Sunday that Herzog believes the issue should not be reduced to a simple choice between granting or denying a pardon, and that his role as president is to seek a solution that could ease Israel’s deep political divisions.

“President Isaac Herzog has stated on several occasions that he regards reaching an amicable solution between the parties as an important public interest,” Herzog’s office said in a statement.

“As for the decision on the pardon request, the president will act solely in accordance with Israeli law, guided by his conscience, and in the best interests of the state of Israel.”

Netanyahu, 76, has been on trial for nearly six years on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three concurrent corruption cases.

He denies wrongdoing and says the cases are part of a political witch hunt by a hostile legal and political establishment.

The pardon request has become a major political flashpoint not only in Israeli politics but also in international affairs, with President Donald Trump pressing Herzog to end the trial.

Trump has repeatedly urged Herzog to grant the pardon, publicly asking during an October visit to the Knesset, “Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon?”

Trump later sent Herzog a letter making the same request.

Netanyahu formally requested a pre-emptive pardon in November, arguing that ending the trial would reduce national tensions and allow him to focus on matters of state.

Israel’s Justice Ministry Pardons Department said last month that there was no legal basis for a pardon unless Netanyahu admitted some guilt, resigned from office or was convicted in court.

Legal experts say any plea deal would likely require Netanyahu to acknowledge wrongdoing and leave public office.

“An admission of guilt, expressing remorse and agreeing to leave — or not to run for — office would be the essence of any plea bargain,” said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute.

But the prime minister has shown no sign that he is prepared to admit wrongdoing or quit politics.

Herzog is now waiting for legal advisers in his office to review the material and make a recommendation.

Officials said Herzog’s circle acknowledges that he has the authority to grant a pardon but that doing so would likely trigger a Supreme Court challenge and deepen political tensions.

The mediation proposal would bring together state prosecutors, the attorney general and Netanyahu’s lawyers under presidential auspices.

A previous attempt to reach a plea deal in Netanyahu’s case failed in 2022.