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pardons

President Isaac Herzog (left) attends an event for outstanding soldiers as part of Israel’s 78th Independence Day celebrations in Jerusalem on April 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); Jacob Bardugo broadcasts outside a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2026. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)
May 8, 2026, 11:40 pm
‘Everyone hates me now,’ Herzog reportedly wailed to Netanyahu confidant at secret meet
President said to have told Jacob Bardugo that he couldn’t pardon Netanyahu because PM did not admit guilt when submitting request; right-wing journalist told Herzog to ‘stop being a coward’
By ToI Staff
Left to right: President Isaac Herzog attends an event for outstanding soldiers in Jerusalem on April 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog attends a state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, April 21, 2026. (Dor Pazuelo/Flash90); Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at the Knesset in Jerusalem on September 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
May 4, 2026, 9:43 am
Heeding Herzog, AG okays unconditional talks for plea deal in Netanyahu’s graft trial
Prime minister’s lawyers have yet to respond to president’s offer last week to host talks; Baharav-Miara previously rejected judge’s offer of nonbinding mediation
By ToI Staff
Left to right: President Isaac Herzog attends an event for outstanding soldiers in Jerusalem on April 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90); Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog attends a state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, April 21, 2026. (Dor Pazuelo/Flash90); Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara at the Knesset in Jerusalem on September 30, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
April 28, 2026, 11:13 pm
Herzog’s office invites Netanyahu’s lawyer, AG to discuss potential plea deal
President’s legal adviser says it would be in national interest to find an ‘arrangement’ to end PM’s trial, which resumed this week after pause due to Iran war; PM wants a pardon
By Jeremy Sharon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second right, and Israel's President Isaac Herzog, second left, attend a ceremony marking the annual Holocaust Remembrance Day at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Israel Hayom via AP, Pool)
April 27, 2026, 3:28 am
Pushing a plea deal for Netanyahu, Herzog takes a risky bet on his pareve approach
The president is known for preferring quiet consensus building over bellicose bombast. That style just might resolve the festering issue of the PM’s trial — but it will likely fail, damaging public faith in him
By Ben Sales
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and President Isaac Herzog at a state memorial ceremony for victims of terror, at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, May 13, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
April 26, 2026, 3:25 pm
Rebuffing Netanyahu’s pardon request, at least for now, Herzog calls for new plea deal talks
President’s office confirms New York Times report that he wants to mediate arbitration in prime minister’s corruption trial, pitting attorney general against Netanyahu’s lawyer
By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal, at the scene where a missile fired from Iran at Israel caused damage to a house in Rishon Lezion, March 16, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)
March 29, 2026, 9:24 pm
Herzog’s office requests additional materials from Justice Ministry on PM’s pardon request
President’s legal adviser seeks precedents of individuals pardoned prior to conviction, as Trump and Netanyahu allies push to end PM’s criminal trial
By Nava Freiberg and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, pictured in the Knesset plenum, March 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
March 24, 2026, 3:17 pm
Minister reportedly backs Netanyahu pardon in position paper submitted to president
Amichay Eliyahu, acting on behalf of justice minister, said to argue pardon would allow nation’s rifts to heal; Herzog adviser to write own paper before president’s final decision
By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, pictured in the Knesset plenum, March 19, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
March 23, 2026, 7:57 pm
Legal watchdog group urges minister not to recommend pardon for Netanyahu
Minister Amichay Eliyahu has strongly indicated he will recommend a pardon, despite the Justice Ministry determining PM’s request does not meet the criteria
By Jeremy Sharon
President Isaac Herzog (center) and First Lady Michal speak to residents of Beit Zarzir at the site of an Iranian ballistic missile strike, March 13, 2026. (GPO)
March 13, 2026, 5:12 pm
After Trump insults, Herzog decries PM’s non-response to ‘attack’ on Israeli sovereignty
Herzog says country’s dignity ‘not for sale’ and indicates Netanyahu should have pushed back forcefully after Trump called Israeli president ‘weak and pathetic’
By Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
US President Donald Trump (center) walks with President Isaac Herzog (left), and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport, October 13, 2025, near Tel Aviv. (AP/Evan Vucci)
March 11, 2026, 11:36 pm
Trump: Herzog is ‘weak and pathetic’ for not granting Netanyahu a pardon
In latest attack on Israeli president, Trump accuses him of being ‘full of crap’ for insisting on receiving a recommendation from the Justice Ministry before ruling on PM’s request
By Lazar Berman and Jeremy Sharon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Tel Aviv District Court to testify in his criminal trial, January 27, 2025. (Yariv Katz/POOL)
March 11, 2026, 4:17 pm
‘We cannot recommend it’: Official review advises against accepting PM’s pardon request
Pardons Department completes position paper on Netanyahu’s request in his corruption case, finding that it does not meet necessary criteria
By Jeremy Sharon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin attend a special session of Knesset in honor of Argentinian President Javier Milei, June 11, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 10, 2026, 4:36 am
Levin to recuse himself from handling Netanyahu’s pardon request to prevent delays
Justice minister, whose closeness to PM could spark conflict of interest claims, delegates to Amichay Eliyahu; Pardons Department said to decide request should be rejected
By ToI Staff
US President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, December 29, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP)
March 9, 2026, 2:36 am
Trump to Times of Israel: It’ll be a ‘mutual’ decision with Netanyahu regarding when Iran war ends
US president, in phone interview, clarifies that he’ll make final call to end operation ‘at right time’; says he and PM ‘worked together’ against Islamic Republic: ‘We’ve destroyed a country that would have destroyed Israel’
By Jacob Magid
US President Donald Trump (right) poses for a photo with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before he boards Air Force One at Ben Gurion International Airport, October 13, 2025, near Tel Aviv, as President Isaac Herzog (left) watches. (AP/Evan Vucci)
March 5, 2026, 9:46 pm
Trump: Herzog is a ‘disgrace,’ must pardon Netanyahu now so PM can focus on Iran war
Herzog’s office: Israel a ‘sovereign state governed by the rule of law,’ pardon decision will be made sans external input; Trump says he won’t meet with president until he issues pardon
By Jacob Magid, Lazar Berman and ToI Staff
US President Donald Trump (center) walks with President Isaac Herzog (left), and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport, October 13, 2025, near Tel Aviv. (AP/Evan Vucci)
February 15, 2026, 3:08 am
Netanyahu didn’t push Trump to slam Herzog over pardon, PM’s office claims
Israeli president’s office had reportedly sought clarification on whether premier was behind US leader saying Herzog ‘should be ashamed of himself’ for not yet pardoning Netanyahu
By Charlie Summers, Lazar Berman and Jacob Magid
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