By Pesach Benson • April 28, 2026
Jerusalem, 28 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog has invited prosecutors and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense team to negotiations aimed at reaching a plea agreement in the Israeli leader’s ongoing corruption trial, according to a letter released Tuesday evening by the President’s Office.
The move marks a significant development in one of Israel’s most divisive legal and political sagas, as Herzog seeks to mediate between the sides before considering Netanyahu’s request for a presidential pardon.
In the letter, Herzog’s legal adviser, attorney Michal Tzuk, said the initiative is intended “to examine the possibility of advancing understandings and agreements” and would serve as “a preliminary stage before the president holds a hearing on the pardon request itself.”
Tzuk sent the invitation to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whose office oversees the prosecution, and to Netanyahu’s attorney, Amit Hadad. The parties were asked to respond by May 3.
“You are therefore invited to come to the President’s Residence as soon as possible to establish the necessary process for holding these talks with a willing heart and with good and appropriate intentions,” Tzuk wrote. She stressed that participation in the discussions would not obligate either side to accept any legal position currently under dispute in court.
The initiative follows reports earlier this week that Herzog had decided against immediately granting Netanyahu a pardon. According to reports in The New York Times and Israeli media, the president instead prefers to encourage negotiations that could lead to a plea deal.
The President’s Office confirmed that approach, saying, “It is appropriate to exhaust the process of reaching an agreement between the parties before discussing the pardon.”
Netanyahu is on trial in three separate corruption cases involving allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. The prime minister denies all wrongdoing and has described the proceedings as politically motivated.
The cases include accusations that Netanyahu granted regulatory benefits to telecommunications giant Bezeq in exchange for favorable coverage from the Walla news website, as well as allegations that he accepted expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen and sought favorable media treatment from newspaper publishers. Netanyahu denies all charges of wrongdoing.
On Monday, Netanyahu resumed testimony in the Tel Aviv District Court after a roughly two-month pause. Hearings had been postponed because of fighting involving Iran and Hezbollah.
Under Israeli law, the president has the authority to issue pardons, although such interventions are generally rare and typically follow recommendations from Justice Ministry officials.
No serving Israeli prime minister has ever been indicted on criminal charges. Ehud Olmert stepped down in 2008 ahead of his own indictment on corruption charges. Olmert was eventually convicted and served two-thirds of a 27-month prison sentence.
