Israel's Herzog to Consider Netanyahu Pardon Only After Plea Deal Efforts Exhausted

Israel's President Isaac Herzog stated on April 26, 2026, that he will consider Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pardon request only after efforts to reach a plea deal are exhausted. Herzog's office stated that efforts should first be exhausted to reach an agreement between the parties outside the courtroom before addressing the pardon request.

Herzog stated on April 26, 2026, that a plea deal would be the best solution in Netanyahu's case.

A spokesperson for Herzog declined to comment beyond the statement when asked whether any plea deal bid was underway. Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Netanyahu submitted a pardon request in November. U.S. President Donald Trump called on Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon several times, including in March 2026 during the Iran war. Netanyahu denies the bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges.

Netanyahu's legal troubles began with investigations around a decade ago. Netanyahu was indicted in 2019. Israel held five rounds of elections between 2019 and 2022. Israel's next election is due by the end of October 2026.

Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to pardon convicts. There is no precedent for issuing a pardon mid-trial in Israel. Netanyahu's trial began in 2020. Netanyahu is due to return to court this week after April 26, 2026.

Netanyahu is Israel's first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that his intervention helped save eight women arrested in Iran from the death penalty.

Iran stated that none of the eight women Trump mentioned were ever facing execution and accused the president of fake reports. President Trump expressed that he is a little surprised by Chinese ships trying to break the US blockade. President Trump expressed disappointment with President Xi Jinping.