President Yitzhak Herzog addressed the pardon request submitted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it "an extraordinary request" in an interview with Politico.
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""We received the request. There is a process through the Ministry of Justice and legal advisors. This is an extraordinary request," Herzog emphasized. "Above all, I will decide according to what is best for the people of Israel. The interest of the people is my first, second and third priority.".
In the interview, it was mentioned that his father, former President Chaim Herzog, granted "preemptive pardon" to senior Shin Bet officials in the Line 300 affair.
""Does this give you room for maneuver?" Herzog was asked - and he answered: "Any advance pardon must be weighed according to the circumstances. There are many questions: on the one hand, equality before the law. On the other hand, circumstances unique to each case.".
Herzog said in an interview: "I respect the friendship of US President Trump and his opinion. And why? Because this is the same Trump we begged him to return the kidnapped, and who courageously led a huge step to make it happen. But Israel is a sovereign state, and we completely respect the legal system and its rules.".
Later, he was asked again if he was not afraid of Trump if he decided not to grant Netanyahu a pardon - and he replied: "I don't think I need to discuss such an issue publicly. Our relations with President Trump and his administration are warm, honest and open. We need to see this in the right context and not immediately go into all kinds of doomsday scenarios.".
The president has reiterated time and again that there is an orderly process by which the pardon request will be considered.
""The person convicted in this case, who is Mr. Netanyahu, according to Israeli law, has to submit a request, and this is of course something that will be duly considered, like other requests, which I take seriously," the president added. "I will deal with it with absolute seriousness. My office received the request for clemency, as you know. It is a process that goes through the Ministry of Justice and my legal advisor and so on.".
The president added at another point in the interview: "The emotional weight I carry on my shoulders is enormous.".
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