Protests erupted in Tel Aviv Sunday night as Israelis confronted the possibility that President Isaac Herzog might consider a conditional pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid his ongoing corruption trial.
Dozens gathered outside the president’s home, chanting slogans and accusing Netanyahu of seeking to bypass the justice system. Protest organizers displayed a mound of bananas topped with a sign reading “Pardon = Banana Republic,” symbolizing their warning that a pardon would erode democratic norms.
Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust connected to alleged media manipulation and improper gifts. Despite the gravity of the accusations, he maintains full innocence and claims political persecution.
Herzog’s office firmly denied reports from multiple television networks suggesting he is preparing a “yes, but” response—one that would grant a pardon contingent on Netanyahu admitting guilt, stepping down, or accepting limitations on future political activity.
Still, speculation continues. Channel 13 reported that any pardon might be conditioned on Netanyahu calling early elections, while other outlets say Herzog could revive negotiations toward a plea deal requiring a guilty plea.
Opposition figures blasted the pardon request. MK Naama Lazimi accused Netanyahu of driving the country toward division and urged Herzog to uphold the integrity of the justice system. In contrast, Naftali Bennett argued that a negotiated end to the trial—including Netanyahu’s retirement—could “bring Israel back from chaos.”
Herzog’s formal decision is expected in several weeks, but the political reverberations are already reshaping public debate, coalition tensions, and the future of Israeli governance.
