President Herzog vows: PM Netanyahu’s pardon request will be weighed in light of ‘best interests’ of the country

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog vowed on Monday to consider only the country’s best interest while weighing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request in his trial for corruption and breach of trust.

On Sunday, Netanyahu’s lawyers submitted a formal request totaling 111 pages for a pardon, but without including an admission of guilt in the charges against him. The document argued that a pardon would “allow the prime minister to devote all of his time, abilities and energy to advancing Israel in these critical times.”

“The issue of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon is clearly provoking debate and is deeply unsettling for many people in the country, across different communities,” Herzog said in a statement on Monday.

“I have already clarified that it will be handled in the most correct and precise manner. I will consider solely the best interests of the State of Israel and Israeli society.”

Upon receiving the request, Herzog’s office had noted that the request “is an unusual request for a pardon with significant implications,” and vowed to “consider it responsibly and seriously” after receiving legal opinions on the matter.

Channel 12 News on Monday cited associates of Netanyahu who said that contrary to speculations, “The prime minister will not admit guilt and will not acknowledge the facts [of potential wrongdoing]; the pardon request is not a ‘starting position’.”

The report added that the pardon request had been discussed with a small number of close associates and family members over the past weekend.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu’s wife, Sarah, had opposed the request in the past but recently changed her opinion due to the strain of the prime minister’s three hearings per week in his trial.

His wife and some advisers were also said to have argued that the pardon request would create a win-win situation for the prime minister.

If Herzog accepts it without conditions, the trial would end. If he demands an admission of guilt, they reportedly argued that Netanyahu’s enemies are trying to convict him through a channel outside of the court.

However, if the request is denied outright, this would allow Netanyahu to argue during the next elections that he set aside his pride to request a pardon, but that the legal establishment and the president are trying to convict him at any cost.

Israeli media reports said Herzog is expected to take several weeks and up to two months to reach a decision on the request.

Sources close to the president told The Times of Israel on Monday that Herzog is planning to travel to New York City next week. The report said that the president plans to meet with the Jewish community, while Ynet News noted that a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump is currently not being planned.

Trump asked Herzog to pardon Netanyahu during a speech at the Knesset in October.