Chicago – April 26, 2026
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he will not decide on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request until efforts to reach a plea deal are exhausted, signaling that any resolution in the long-running corruption case is still likely to take time. Herzog said a deal would be the best solution and that discussions should be tried outside the courtroom before the pardon request is addressed.
Netanyahu submitted a pardon request in November while standing trial on corruption charges he denies. Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to grant pardons, but there is no precedent for issuing one in the middle of a trial. Reuters reported that Herzog’s office published the statement after The New York Times said the president was preparing to advance mediation for a plea bargain.
The move keeps pressure on Netanyahu, whose legal battle has become one of the most divisive issues in Israeli politics. Herzog’s position suggests the president is seeking a negotiated exit before taking the exceptional step of ruling on clemency.
