Ministers say Herzog pardon would heal national divisions, will continue push for judicial overhaul

Defense Minister Israel Katz calls on President Isaac Herzog to accede to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon, arguing in a statement that such a move would “bring an end to the legal charges that were born in sin and have created a severe division that splits the nation.”

“Israel is facing a more complex security reality today than ever before: old enemies are trying to rebuild their strength, while new forces in the region are attempting to rise with the goal of threatening the security of Israeli citizens. At this time, unified leadership focused on the strategic threat before us is required,” Katz argues.

“Granting a pardon, as also noted by the president of the United States, is the only way to end the deep rift that has accompanied Israeli society for about a decade and allow the country to unite again in the face of the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. Benjamin Netanyahu has earned the trust of the people time and again, and he must be allowed to continue leading the State of Israel in the face of all the challenges it faces. I call on President Herzog to support the decision that will allow the State of Israel to continue forward united.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich joins the chorus of voices calling for Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, saying his party will continue the push for the government’s contentious judicial overhaul.

“The commitment of Religious Zionism to reforming the judicial system will continue in a substantive manner, regardless of Netanyahu’s pardon,” Smotrich says of his far-right party.

“Separate from the necessary reform in the law enforcement system, it is clear to any reasonable person that Netanyahu has been persecuted for years by a corrupt judicial system that fabricated political cases against him, and therefore I call on the president to grant the pardon request,” he adds.

Education Minister Yoav Kisch voices an appeal for unity, declaring that Netanyahu’s trial had been motivated by a goal of “political obstruction” and “has created division in the nation and boycotts between camps.”

“The cost of continuing the trial is serious harm to the prime minister’s ability to realize political opportunities with President Trump following the military achievements in the War of Revival,” he says, referring to the war against Hamas in Gaza, adding that “for the sake of the State of Israel and for the sake of justice it is appropriate for the president to end the trial.”

Herzog must pardon Netanyahu “to prove that he is not part of the political game,” argues Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Boaz Bismuth (Likud).

“After years of political persecution under the guise of legal proceedings, it’s time to put an end to the long performance carried out at the expense of the country.”