Herzog says he will consider Netanyahu’s pardon request only in the state’s interest

Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, said on Monday that he will examine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon, giving priority solely to the interests of the state. Herzog said: “I will think only of the interest of the State of Israel and Israeli society. Only the interest of the state is before my eyes.” He added that no aggressive public statements would influence his decision. He noted that the request “has stirred many people across different groups in the country and sparked wide debate”, while stressing that the matter would be handled “properly and precisely”. Herzog stated: “Aggressive speech does not affect me. On the contrary, respectful speech encourages discussion and dialogue.” He added that he encourages the Israeli […]