Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not consider a deal that would require him to pull out of the political arena, The Jerusalem Post learned on Sunday.
"He is planning to run again [in the next elections]," the sources said.
This touches on the core of the debate over the trial and over a plea bargain over the years: Moral turpitude, the principle that would distance Netanyahu from politics. Effectively, what the sources are saying is that, with the ball in Herzog's court, the true win - remaining in politics - may be all but guaranteed.
Sources close to Herzog said that a decision will take at least two months.
The President's Office, in its statement, said that Herzog will consider the request "responsibly and sincerely" once all legal materials are before him. It stressed the unusual nature of the submission, saying it "carries significant implications.”
The request has been transferred to the Justice Ministry's Pardons Department for professional opinions ahead of Herzog's decision, according to his office.
Netanyahu's decision to request a pardon
Shortly after Netanyahu's submission, the prime minister released a video message explaining his decision, framing it as necessary to prevent further societal divisions and to allow the country to focus on national priorities.
Trump sent a letter earlier this month to Herzog, urging him to pardon Netanyahu, calling the corruption trial “political” and “unjustified.”
Netanyahu has been on trial in the Jerusalem District Court since May 2020, after being indicted in 2019 in three separate cases known as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000. He has pleaded not guilty and says the proceedings are a political attempt to oust him.
He is charged with one count of bribery and three counts each of fraud and breach of trust.