President Isaac Herzog has deferred any decision on Benjamin Netanyahu’s pardon request in the ongoing corruption cases, instead directing efforts toward mediation for a potential plea deal between the prime minister and the attorney general. Legal opinions from the Justice Ministry’s Pardons Department have declined to recommend granting clemency prior to a conviction or admission of guilt, citing institutional norms and procedural constraints under Israeli law. External pressure from U.S. President Trump has not altered Herzog’s stated approach, which prioritizes Israeli legal processes over expedited resolution. With only two weeks remaining before the June 30 deadline and no reported breakthroughs in negotiations or shifts in the president’s position, traders view an imminent pardon as highly improbable.