Prez Herzog Delays Decision on Netanyahu's Pardon Request | WION

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Well, Israel's president has delayed Prime Minister Netanyahu's pardon request. Isaac Kzog has signaled that any decision on a pardon for Netanyahu will not come anytime soon. Now, Herzog made it clear that a plea agreement should be the first path forward in Netanyahu's longunning corruption trial.

[00:00:20]The president emphasized that all efforts to reach a deal outside the courtroom must be exhausted before he would even consider intervening. Now, this development adds a new layer of uncertainty to a case that has already deeply polarized Israeli society.

[00:00:38]Netanyao has been entangled in legal troubles for nearly a decade now. His indictment in 2019 triggered a prolonged period of political instability leading to five rounds of national elections between 2019 in 2022.

[00:00:54]With another election schedule by the end of October 2026, the timing of this legal and political drama could once again have far-reaching consequences.

[00:01:05]Herzog's statement followed reports that he may be considering a mediation rule to facilitate a plea bargain. However, his office has declined to conf confirm whether such efforts are currently underway. When Nathano filed his request for a presidential pardon last November under Israeli law, the president does have the authority to grant pardons, but there is no historical precedent for doing so while a trial is still in progress.

[00:01:35]The US President Donald Trump has publicly urged Herzog to grant a pardon to Netanyahu. With court proceedings set to resume this week, Netanyahu will return to the legal arena at a critical moment.