Israel’s President, Putting Off Decision on Pardon for Netanyahu, Will Push for Plea Deal
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- President Isaac Herzog of Israel is currently deliberating whether to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon in his ongoing corruption trial, a decision that has deeply divided Israelis and attracted pressure from former President Donald Trump.
- Herzog does not intend to grant a pardon soon; instead, he aims to initiate a mediation process to explore a plea deal, viewing options beyond a simple pardon-or-no-pardon choice.
- Herzog believes his primary role as president is to promote national unity and prefers to resolve the issue through negotiations rather than making an immediate decision on the pardon request.
- The information comes from senior Israeli officials speaking anonymously due to the political sensitivity of the matter, while Herzog’s office emphasized that any decision will be made in accordance with Israeli law and the best interests of the state.
