Report: Herzog Will Seek Mediation to End Netanyahu's Trial, Not to Issue a Pardon

SadaNews Economy - Israeli President Isaac Herzog does not intend to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; instead, he will initially seek to mediate a deal between the prosecution and Netanyahu, under which Netanyahu admits to the charges against him.

Herzog believes that there are many options beyond the choice of pardon or not, considering that his main role is to promote unity in Israeli society, which is divided over Netanyahu's trial on corruption charges, preferring to resolve the pardon issue through negotiations, according to a report today, Sunday, in the "New York Times" citing two Israeli officials familiar with Herzog's position on the matter.

A statement from the Israeli President's Office following the American newspaper's report said, "As he has said repeatedly in the past, President Isaac Herzog sees reaching a settlement between the two sides (the prosecution and Netanyahu) as a proper and worthy solution. Communications towards a settlement are a necessary part of the effort to achieve agreements between the two sides."

The statement added, "Herzog believes that the correct approach is to first exhaust procedures that could lead to a settlement between the two sides, outside the walls of the court, before considering the request for a pardon itself."

The newspaper reported that Herzog's office stated that he "considers reaching an amicable solution between the two sides an important public interest. As for the decision to request a pardon, the president will act strictly according to Israeli law, guided by his conscience, and in a manner that serves the interests of the State of Israel best."

Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The officials said that Herzog is fully aware that the atmosphere in the country is tense due to the wars in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon, and with elections approaching, set to take place by next October.

It seems unlikely that Netanyahu would currently agree to a deal like the one Herzog is proposing, as legal experts indicated that any such deal would have to include his guilty plea, acknowledgment of the corruption charges against him, and his resignation from office.

Yohanan Plesner, head of the "Israeli Democracy Institute," said, "Netanyahu knows that the option of a guilty plea deal is always available to him." He added that "a guilty plea, an expression of remorse, and agreeing to leave his position - or not run for it - is the essence of any guilty plea deal, should the minimum requirement be the waiver of prison sentences."

The pardons department at the Ministry of Justice provided its opinion regarding the pardon request submitted by Netanyahu to Herzog, confirming that there is no legal basis for a pardon unless Netanyahu admits some guilt, takes responsibility by resigning, or is convicted in court. It added that it is unable to reach a conclusion or recommend the application of presidential pardon authority in this case.

According to the officials, the prevailing assessment among Israeli President Herzog is that he has the authority to pardon Netanyahu, but such a decision would lead to petitions to the Supreme Court challenging the decision, which could widen the rift in Israeli society.