Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Sunday that he will delay any decision on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon petition until all possibilities for a negotiated plea agreement have been explored first.
The corruption case against Netanyahu has deeply divided Israeli society and caused significant political upheaval, leading to five separate elections from 2019 through 2022. The prime minister’s legal issues stem from investigations that started approximately ten years ago, with the next scheduled election set for October 2026.
Netanyahu has consistently rejected all allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Herzog stated Sunday that negotiating an agreement would represent the optimal outcome for Netanyahu’s situation.
“The President therefore believes that before addressing the pardon request itself, efforts should first be exhausted to reach an agreement between the parties, outside the courtroom,” Herzog said in a statement.
The president’s office released this statement following a New York Times report indicating Herzog planned to facilitate mediation toward a plea agreement, postponing any pardon consideration.
When questioned about whether plea negotiations were currently in progress, a Herzog spokesperson refused to elaborate beyond the official statement. Netanyahu’s representatives did not provide a response to requests for comment.
The pardon petition was filed by Netanyahu in November. Israeli law grants the president pardoning authority for convicted individuals, though no historical precedent exists for pardoning someone during an ongoing trial.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Herzog to issue a pardon for Netanyahu, including appeals made in March during the Iran conflict when court proceedings were temporarily suspended.
Netanyahu is scheduled to return to court this week as his trial, which commenced in 2020, continues. He holds the distinction of being Israel’s first serving prime minister to face criminal charges.
