President Isaac Herzog Initiates Formal Plea Deal Negotiations to Resolve Prime Minister Netanyahu Long Running Criminal Trial

President Isaac Herzog invites the AG and Netanyahu’s lawyer to negotiate a plea deal after rejecting a pardon request for the Prime Minister.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 3:22 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from The Times of Israel

A Presidential Initiative for National Judicial Resolution

In a significant move to address the legal deadlock surrounding the Prime Minister, the legal adviser to President Isaac Herzog has issued a formal invitation to the country’s top legal representatives. The goal of this meeting is to initiate discussions that could lead to a comprehensive plea bargain, referred to in official correspondence as a necessary agreement over the premier’s criminal trial. According to the letter sent from the President’s Residence, the administration believes that reaching a settled arrangement is a matter of paramount national interest. This intervention marks a proactive shift by Herzog to resolve a case that has deeply divided the Israeli public and paralyzed much of the country's political discourse for years.

The Strategic Pivot Following Pardon Rejection

This new push for a plea deal comes immediately after President Herzog opted not to grant Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a formal pardon. According to reports in Hebrew media, the President followed the strict guidance of the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department, which concluded that the Prime Minister’s current situation does not meet the established legal criteria for such an extraordinary measure. By ruling out a pardon at this stage, Herzog has effectively signaled that any resolution to the Prime Minister’s legal woes must come through the judicial system or a negotiated settlement with the prosecution, rather than through executive clemency.

Terms of Engagement for the Upcoming Talks

The invitation, penned by the President’s legal adviser Michal Tzuk, was sent directly to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Netanyahu’s defense attorney, Amit Hadad. According to Tzuk, the parties are expected to enter the discussions with a willing heart and a commitment to reaching a conclusion that serves the state. The letter specifies that both the prosecution and the defense should enter the room free of prior commitments or rigid conditions, allowing for a flexible negotiation process. This framework is intended to create a neutral environment where the highly polarized sides can find middle ground without the pressure of immediate public or political interference.