President Isaac Herzog said in Davos on Thursday that any decision on a potential pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be made independently, in accordance with Israeli law and his conscience.
Herzog added that Netanyahu’s trial has a “very negative” impact on the system and that a solution must be found, stressing that Israel’s judiciary is sovereign.
His comments come after recent remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting they discussed a pardon, which he said would come within the next few months. The President’s Residence denied these claims, stating that no such conversation had occurred since the request was filed.
Herzog told the World Economic Forum that he respects Trump, but emphasized that Israel will operate within its legal framework. He said the final decision will be his alone, based on the law and his personal conscience.
About three weeks ago, during Netanyahu’s visit to Mar-a-Lago, Trump said he had spoken with Herzog and that a pardon was on the way.
The President’s Residence denied that a conversation took place since the pardon request was filed, saying a representative of Trump had inquired about procedure and was told that any decision would follow established rules.
Netanyahu submitted a formal pardon request in late November 2025. Presidential pardons in Israel are considered only after a full professional review, and, while possible before conviction, such interventions are rare.
Legal norms and conditions for a pardon in Israel
Under the Basic Law, the president can grant pardons, even before conviction, though in practice such cases are rare and typically follow a full professional evaluation. Reviews generally weigh rehabilitation, humanitarian factors, and the completion of judicial proceedings.
Legal scholars and commentators, citing democratic norms, argue that clemency is traditionally exercised after courts have completed their work, not as an alternative to a trial. The question of timing, they say, carries constitutional and public-trust implications.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.