Netanyahu to Serve Two Years, Then Receive Pardon in Rotation Government Plan

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is reportedly considering a political initiative that would see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu serve for another two years before retiring from politics and receiving a presidential pardon. The proposal, first reported by Moty Castel on Channel 14, suggests a rotation government where Netanyahu would serve the initial two-year term. In exchange, he would commit to ending his political career, with the pardon being part of the agreement. The President's Residence has vehemently denied the report, calling it "absolute fake."

The initiative is said to stem from the current political deadlock following the recent elections, where neither Netanyahu's bloc nor his opponents secured a clear majority to form a government. The plan aims to break this stalemate, with Netanyahu reportedly considering ways to dismantle the opposition bloc by potentially bringing one of its parties into a coalition, while opposition leaders continue to refuse serving under his leadership.

Discussions about a rotation government were ongoing even before the elections. Previously, reports indicated talks for a unity government between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, with support from figures close to the US President Donald Trump. These discussions also included the possibility of Netanyahu parting ways with some of his right-wing allies to facilitate a broader government.

The new proposal adds a significant element: Netanyahu's departure from politics. This condition could potentially make it easier for his rivals to accept his initial two-year term, but it requires Netanyahu to agree to an outcome he has previously explicitly opposed. The issue of a pardon has been a subject of discussion for months, with reports of Herzog preferring a negotiated settlement in Netanyahu's legal cases before deciding on a pardon request. Previous attempts at dialogue between Herzog and Netanyahu regarding the legal proceedings and a potential pardon have stalled.

Channel 14 reported that this is a direction Herzog intends to pursue, not a finalized agreement. The President's Residence stated that the official election results will be presented next Wednesday, after which Herzog will hold consultations with the factions and make his decision according to his legal authority. No agreement from Netanyahu regarding his retirement has been announced, nor has a political partner for the proposed rotation government been identified.