Israel’s President Isaac Herzog says he will consider Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request only after efforts to reach a plea deal are exhausted.
Netanyahu denies bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges in a long-running corruption trial that has shaped Israeli politics for years.
The trial is set to resume this week, with no immediate decision expected on the pardon request.
Why This Moment Matters
Netanyahu’s trial—encompassing Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000, which involve accusations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust—marks a historic moment: it is the first instance of a sitting Israeli prime minister undergoing criminal prosecution while still in office
However, the pardon request, submitted in late 2025, adds a new layer to the situation. It raises the question of whether clemency, a power intended for mercy after justice has been served, can be redefined to interrupt justice during its course.
Herzog’s conditional reply demonstrates a meticulous balancing act. On one hand, there is significant pressure from coalition allies and even external figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported the idea of a pardon.
