Nearly Half of Israelis Reject Any Pardon for Netanyahu

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he understands that Netanyahu's pardon request is “deeply unsettling for many people,” and that he “will consider only the good of the state and Israeli society.”

A Channel 12 News poll found that support for a pardon rises from 36% to 38% if it is conditioned on Netanyahu’s departure from politics. (Photo: Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו Facebook)

Nearly half of Israelis oppose pardoning Netanyahu, polls showed, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Herzog added that “violent rhetoric does not influence me — on the contrary,” inviting “the Israeli public” to share their opinions with him. Only one-third support a pardon for Netanyahu, according to polls published Sunday by Israeli news channels.

A Channel 12 News poll found that support for a pardon rises from 36% to 38% if it is conditioned on Netanyahu’s departure from politics.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on X that in order to “rescue Israel from the chaos” caused by Netanyahu’s attempts to evade his trial, he will “support a binding agreement that will include a dignified withdrawal from political life alongside the end of the trial.”

Right-wing opposition lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman, once a close ally of Netanyahu, also said a pardon should be followed by “complete retirement from public life.”

Meanwhile, Canada and Italy condemned settler violence after four foreign activists were wounded in a settler attack.