Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided not to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his corruption trial for now. Instead, he intends to launch a mediation process to reach a plea deal, according to two senior Israeli officials with knowledge of the president's position.
According to them, Herzog believes that there are more options than a simple choice between pardon or not, and that the president's role is to help reduce tensions and maintain unity in the country.
Netanyahu, 76, has been on trial for nearly six years on charges including bribery, fraud and abuse of office. He denies all charges and claims the trial against him is a political "witch hunt."
The issue has deeply divided public opinion in Israel. Polls show that about half of Israelis oppose a pardon for the prime minister. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has put pressure on Herzog to pardon Netanyahu.
According to officials, Herzog is considering informal talks between the prosecution, the attorney general and Netanyahu's lawyers to find a negotiated solution. Such an agreement usually involves an admission of guilt and possible sanctions, while some legal experts have suggested it could even require Netanyahu to leave politics.
The president is expected to make a decision only after his legal advisers review all options.
