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Israel’s President, Putting Off Decision on Pardon for Netanyahu, Will Push for Plea Deal

President Isaac Herzog of Israel has decided not to issue a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption case at this time, and instead will seek mediation, officials say.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, left, with President Isaac Herzog, in Jerusalem last week.

Credit...

Pool photo by Ilia Yefimovich

By

Isabel Kershner

Reporting from Jerusalem

April 26, 2026,

5:20 a.m. ET

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For months, President Isaac Herzog of Israel has deliberated over the politically fraught question of whether to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon in his long-running corruption trial. It’s a highly contentious issue that has divided Israelis and drawn pressure from President Trump, who has aggressively intervened on Mr. Netanyahu’s behalf.

But Mr. Herzog does not plan to give Mr. Netanyahu a pardon anytime soon. Instead he will first try to initiate a mediation process to reach a plea deal, according to two senior Israeli officials with direct knowledge of Mr. Herzog’s thinking.

Mr. Herzog, the officials said, believes that there are many options beyond the binary pardon-or-no-pardon choice, and that the main role of Israel’s president is to foster unity. So he does not plan to say yes or no to Mr. Netanyahu’s request for a pardon at this stage, the officials said, preferring to try to resolve the issue through negotiations.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the issue is so politically sensitive.

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

The prime minister’s office and Mr. Netanyahu’s lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mr. Netanyahu, 76, a conservative, has been on trial for almost six years. Charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, he is battling

three separate but interlocking cases

centered on accusations that he arranged favors for tycoons in exchange for gifts and sympathetic media coverage of him and his family.

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