Khaberni - The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, has invited the Prime Minister's lawyer and the public prosecutor to a meeting at his residence, according to an announcement from his office on Tuesday, at a time when a pardon request is being considered in the ongoing corruption trials against Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu faces charges in two cases involving attempts to obtain positive media coverage from Israeli media outlets, in addition to a third case where he is accused of receiving more than $260,000 in luxurious gifts from billionaires in exchange for political favors.
A fourth corruption charge against him has been dropped.
The president's legal advisor, Michal Tzuk-Shafir, in a message to the parties, stated that Herzog "believes that before exercising his powers regarding the request concerning the Prime Minister, every effort should be made to hold discussions among the parties to reach understandings."
The message was addressed to Netanyahu's lawyer Ami Haddad, the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, and the State Prosecutor Ami Aisman.
Netanyahu, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, is the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to appear in court on corruption charges.
He has long described the judicial proceedings that began in 2019 as a "political trial."
Herzog's office explained that these discussions constitute "just a preliminary step before the President considers exercising the pardon power."
US President Donald Trump addressed the issue directly in a speech to the Knesset in October, urging Herzog to grant him the pardon.
He later sent an official letter requesting a pardon for Netanyahu, followed by a formal request from the latter's lawyer.
Netanyahu's trial resumed two weeks ago after the lifting of emergency restrictions imposed during the war with Iran.
