According to a report by the Times of Israel on Thursday 22 January, 2026, Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed questions about a possible pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while appearing at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, pushing back gently against outside pressure and emphasizing process over politics.

Speaking in Switzerland, Herzog said he has repeatedly explained that any request for a presidential pardon must follow a defined legal path. At the moment, he noted, the matter is still moving through the Justice Ministry, where opinions from relevant bodies are gathered before anything reaches his desk. That procedure, he stressed, isn’t optional and can’t be skipped, regardless of who is involved.

Herzog also referred to comments by US President Donald Trump on the issue. While expressing personal regard for Trump, the Israeli president made clear that foreign views don’t override domestic law. “I respect President Trump tremendously, and of course we have our own legal system and I will operate within its bounds," he said.

Beyond the mechanics of a pardon, Herzog reflected more broadly on Netanyahu’s ongoing trial. He suggested the case has dragged on for too long and has taken a toll on Israel’s institutions. In his view, the situation ideally should be brought to a close through an agreed resolution, since prolonged legal battles at the top of government can weigh heavily on public trust.

In the end, Herzog said, the responsibility rests with him alone. Any decision, he added, will be made independently and guided by the law, established rules, and his own conscience - not by political pressure at home or abroad