Israeli president Herzog pressured to pardon Netanyahu in secret meeting

Israel’s president quoted as saying during secret meeting last month that there is no chance he will grand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon.

By World Israel News Staff

President Isaac Herzog told a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the premier’s pardon request had “no chance” in its current form, according to Israeli reports, amid growing pressure on the president to halt Netanyahu’s corruption trial.

Channel 12 reported over the weekend that Herzog met secretly in March with right-wing commentator Jacob Bardugo, a close Netanyahu ally, at an apartment in the central Israeli town of Shoham. The meeting reportedly lasted about two-and-a-half hours and became heated.

“You don’t understand how everyone hates me now, and partly because of you,” Herzog reportedly told Bardugo, referring to public pressure from both Netanyahu supporters and opponents. “The left thinks I will grant a pardon no matter what… Meanwhile, you’re inciting the right against me nonstop.”

Herzog reportedly said Netanyahu’s filing did not amount to a viable pardon request because the prime minister had not admitted guilt.

“What he handed us is not a request and it has no chance of passing,” Herzog was quoted as saying.

Bardugo reportedly pressed Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, saying it would help unite the country.

“Stop being a coward, stop being afraid,” Bardugo reportedly told him. “Think about what will happen when you come to greet President Trump after he lands in Israel, and he doesn’t even extend his hand or say hello. Will that be pleasant for you?”

Herzog’s office confirmed that the president met Bardugo but said it was only a background conversation with a journalist.

“The meeting in question was strictly a general background conversation, and there was no conclusion, promise, or concrete discussion around a pardon,” the President’s Residence said.

Channel 12 later reported that people close to Bardugo said Netanyahu knew about the meeting. Bardugo said Herzog had requested the meeting and accused the president’s side of leaking or recording it.

Netanyahu formally requested a pardon in November, saying the trial was harming national unity and distracting him from wartime leadership. He has denied wrongdoing in the bribery, fraud and breach of trust cases against him.

Herzog has so far declined to grant the request. His office said last month that he believes the parties should first try to reach an agreed resolution outside court.