Israeli President Cannot Grant PM Netanyahu Pardon Currently, Reports Say
Translated from Slovak, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog reportedly told a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he cannot currently grant the premier a pardon.
- Herzog expressed frustration over facing criticism from both the left, who expect him to grant a pardon, and the right, who accuse him of bias.
- The president stated that Netanyahu has not formally applied for a pardon, and any submitted request would have no chance of approval.
President Isaac Herzog finds himself in a deeply uncomfortable position, caught between the political left and right over the contentious issue of a potential pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Recent reports, citing a conversation with a confidant of the Prime Minister, reveal Herzog's candid frustration with the intense pressure he faces from all sides. The left, he feels, expects him to grant a pardon unconditionally, while the right, fueled by certain media figures, continuously incites opposition against any such move.
The left thinks I will pardon him at all costs. They consider me suspect even before I do anything. Meanwhile, you are constantly inciting the right against me.
This delicate balancing act is further complicated by the procedural realities. Herzog has made it clear that, as it stands, a pardon is not feasible. He pointedly noted that Netanyahu has not even submitted a formal request, rendering any discussion of approval moot. The document presented by Netanyahu's lawyers earlier this year, while asserting the Prime Minister's perceived desert of a pardon, did not constitute a formal application, according to the President's account.
How can I pardon Netanyahu when he has never even submitted a request? What they presented to us is not a request and has no chance of approval.
The situation is fraught with political implications, particularly as figures like the right-wing journalist Jacob Bardugo reportedly urged Herzog to grant the pardon, suggesting it would help unify a deeply divided nation. This perspective, however, seems to overlook the legal and ethical complexities involved, as well as the potential for such a move to be perceived as a political intervention rather than a judicial one. The President's dilemma highlights the profound societal divisions within Israel and the immense pressure on its leadership during these turbulent times.
Think about how you will feel when you greet Trump upon his arrival in Israel and the president doesn't even shake your hand or greet you. Will it be pleasant for you?
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by SME in Slovak. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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