President Herzog holds off on PM Netanyahu pardon decision, urges plea deal

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided not to grant the pardon request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The New York Times reported. 

The President's Residence later confirmed the report, saying that Herzog “views reaching a settlement between the parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu's cases as an appropriate and correct solution.” 

“The President believes it is proper first, before discussing the pardon request itself, to exhaust a process that could lead to the formulation of a settlement between the parties, outside the walls of the courtroom,” the statement continued. 

Netanyahu, who has been under investigation on corruption charges for nearly six years, formally requested a pardon from Herzog in November 2025. In his extraordinary request, which did not contain an admission of guilt, Netanyahu argued that his trial – with the required frequent court appearances – was dividing Israeli society and hindering his ability to focus on pressing national security matters, including conflict with Iran. He also argued that canceling the trial would help heal political rifts in the nation and allow him to focus on state affairs. 

According to the NYT report, Herzog believes that pursuing a plea deal would better serve national unity, while any potential pardon would be subject to judicial review and could further intensify the already heated political debate surrounding the prime minister.

Both before and after Netanyahu submitted his request, Herzog has resisted several attempts at pressuring a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump. In March, Trump attacked Herzog over his failure to issue a pardon, calling the Israeli president a “disgrace” and claiming that Herzog had promised to pardon Netanyahu, which Herzog’s office denied. 

At that time, the President's Office maintained a neutral stance, issuing an official response. 

“President Isaac Herzog has stated on several occasions that he sees reaching an amicable solution between the parties as an important public interest,” the statement read. “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 interest of the State of Israel.” 

Legal experts in Israel have noted the difference between a plea bargain and a free pardon. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, told the NYT that some admission of guilt would likely form the basis for a plea bargain.

“An admission of guilt, an expression of remorse, and an agreement to leave – or not to run – for office will be the essence of any plea bargain. If you forgo a prison sentence, that's the minimum that should be required.” 

Micha Fettman, a former defense attorney for Netanyahu, told Channel 12 News in December that President Herzog likely cannot issue a pardon to Netanyahu without an admission of guilt. 

“A pardon is given to an offender – that’s what the law stipulates,” Fettman said.

Fettman said that according to Article 11B of the Basic Law: The President, a person must admit to the offense or at least acknowledge the facts in order to receive a pardon from the president. 

Netanyahu is not likely to agree to such a condition, as he has repeatedly said he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by the “deep state” in Israeli politics. With elections approaching and his party currently performing well in polls, he is also unlikely to accept an agreement to leave politics, which a plea deal would likely entail.

In March 2026, the Pardons Department in the Ministry of Justice issued a detailed opinion stating that there is no legal basis for a pardon without an admission of guilt or conviction. On the other hand, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu submitted a position paper calling on Herzog to exercise a "broad historical perspective" beyond the just-written law. 

In response to the NYT report and questions by reporters, the President's Office released a statement. 

“As expressed several times in the past, President Isaac Herzog sees reaching an agreement between the parties in Prime Minister Netanyahu's case as a proper and correct solution,” the statement said. “Negotiations for an agreement are a necessary part of the attempt to bring the parties to an agreement. 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.”