Herzog says Netanyahu pardon decision will be guided by ‘Good Of Israel’

Monday 01 - 14:40

By: Sahili Aya

Herzog says Netanyahu pardon decision will be guided by ‘Good Of Israel’

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday delivered his first public remarks since receiving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s formal request for a presidential pardon, stressing that his eventual decision will be made solely with the country’s interests in mind.

“The question of a pardon is deeply affecting many people in Israel,” Herzog said, noting the sensitivity and national significance of the issue. “I will handle it in the best and most responsible manner, considering only the good of the state.”

Netanyahu submitted his request on Sunday, a move the President’s Office described as unusual and carrying major legal and political implications. The request was delivered by Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, to the President’s Legal Department before being transferred—according to standard protocol—to the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department.

Officials there will compile expert assessments from the relevant authorities, which will then be forwarded to the President’s Legal Adviser for further review. Herzog will make his final decision after receiving that recommendation.

The development has triggered intense debate across Israel, with many viewing the request as a pivotal moment in the country’s political and judicial landscape.