Israel President Holds Off Deciding Whether to Pardon Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided to shelve, for now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon in his graft trial, preferring to press the parties to reach an agreement that would terminate the case consensually, his office announced.

Herzog has been under intense pressure both to issue a pardon from Netanyahu’s supporters and to deny him one from his opponents and those worried about equality under the law. For now, at least, he’s saying no to both.