Why Netanyahu’s pardon request traps Israeli president in a political dilemma?

By Abdel Raouf Arnaout and Betul Yilmaz

JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put President Isaac Herzog in a political dilemma by requesting a pardon in his corruption trial without admitting guilt or pledging to retire from political life.

On Sunday, Netanyahu officially asked Herzog to pardon him of corruption charges, but the opposition called on the Israeli president to reject the request unless the premier admits guilt and commits to withdrawing from political life.

US President Donald Trump has also asked Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who has headed the current government since late 2022.

Supporters of the request claim that pardoning Netanyahu would restore unity among Israelis and end divisions.

According to leaked information from Netanyahu’s office, the review of the pardon request by the president may require weeks of examination.

Since the start of his trial, Netanyahu has refused to admit guilt, while Israeli law only allows the president to grant a pardon after an admission of guilt.

- Pardon for price

“The atmosphere in the President’s Office indicates that granting the prime minister a pardon will not come without a price,” the public broadcaster KAN said.

Herzog “is considering conditioning Netanyahu to step down from office, even temporarily, and to halt the controversial judicial amendments if he decides to approve the request,” the outlet added.

Netanyahu “will not receive a pardon without a clear political price,” and the president will not grant him an “unconditional” pardon as he requested, KAN said, citing unnamed aides of Herzog.

“Herzog may allow Netanyahu to return to political life after the elections (of October 2026) if he wins, but not during the period of the pardon.”

However, the Israeli president’s office denied these reports, saying in a statement that discussion of the pardon request “has not yet begun.”

“The case is still in the stage of gathering professional opinions from relevant authorities,” the statement said, adding that Herzog “will not succumb to pressure from any side.”

- Early elections

On contrary, unnamed associates of Netanyahu told the public broadcaster that withdrawing from political life “is not on the table.”

They added that the pardon request was submitted “in full coordination with (US) President Trump,” and they expect the American leader to announce his support for the request soon.

On November 13, Trump sent an official letter to Herzog requesting a pardon for Netanyahu.

However, KAN quoted unnamed Israeli political sources saying that since that letter, “no discussions have taken place between the White House and the Israeli presidency on the matter.”

Israel’s Channel 13 reported Sunday that Netanyahu is not expected to agree to leave political life, adding that “he may agree to a pardon in exchange for early elections.”

For two years, Netanyahu has rejected opposition calls for early elections amid accusations of failure and authoritarianism.

“It is believed that Herzog will approve a pardon in exchange for early elections,” the outlet said.

Negotiations are expected to continue for weeks, “but Netanyahu’s aides said last night they will not engage in direct or indirect negotiations over the pardon,” according to the channel.

“It’s either an unconditional pardon or the prime minister continues the trial until he is acquitted,” Netanyahu’s aides said.

The channel, citing unnamed Justice Ministry sources, said that Netanyahu’s request “is not a request for a pardon, but a request to cancel the trial or be acquitted.”

The sources described the request as “a threat letter,” saying Netanyahu claims that if he does not receive a pardon, “he will continue the judicial overhaul and destroy the free media.”

Netanyahu’s government insists on passing judicial amendments, which it claims will strengthen the separation of powers, while the opposition says they aim to take control of the judiciary.

- A resounding ‘no’

The Israeli daily Haaretz said that the only logical response to Netanyahu’s request for a pardon is “a resounding no.”​​​​​​​

“Even while requesting a pardon, he persists in hinting that the cases are fabricated and in portraying law-enforcement agencies as criminal organizations,” it added.

Haaretz called the request “an aggressive act seeking to exploit the pardon institution to cancel justice and undermine equality before the law,” rather than being “an attempt to heal divisions.”

It warned that a pardon for Netanyahu would send a clear message to future powerful defendants: “Attack state institutions, apply political pressure, break every rule—and in the end you will be rewarded.”

“This would be a complete victory for Netanyahu, and history would likely record Herzog as someone who acted with blackmail,” the daily said.

In January, Netanyahu began interrogation sessions related to corruption charges in cases designated 1000, 2000, and 4000, all of which he denies.

Case 1000 involves accusations that Netanyahu and his wife received expensive gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors.

Case 2000 concerns alleged negotiations with Arnon Mozes, publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, to gain favorable media coverage.

Case 4000, considered the most serious, involves allegations of providing regulatory and other benefits to Shaul Elovitch, the former owner of the news site Walla and the Bezeq telecommunications company, in exchange for favorable media coverage.

The Israeli premier also faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over atrocities in Gaza, where over 70,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 2023.