President Isaac Herzog has consistently prioritized mediation toward a plea deal in Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial over granting a presidential pardon, citing the need for substantive legal grounds such as an admission of guilt, resignation, or conviction. Netanyahu formally requested clemency in late 2025, but Justice Ministry reviews and Herzog’s legal stance have sidelined direct action, even amid external pressure from figures like U.S. President Trump. Recent statements from Herzog emphasize decisions based solely on national interest and established criteria, while opposition voices condition any support on Netanyahu’s exit from politics. With Israeli elections scheduled for late October 2026 potentially shifting coalition dynamics, traders assign low implied probability to a pardon by year-end, reflecting procedural barriers and the president’s repeated signals favoring negotiated resolution over executive clemency.