Israeli President Breaks His Silence on Netanyahu's Pardon 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, reflecting on his tenure amid unprecedented crises, described the emotional burden of his office as immense but divinely timed, saying, “God gave me this role at this moment, to be there for Israel in its most difficult hour.”

In an exclusive interview with POLITICO Magazine, Herzog opened up about the weight of leading Israel through the Covid pandemic fallout, judicial reform protests, the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, and the ensuing Gaza war. “The emotional weight that I carry on my shoulders is huge,” he said, noting that he and his wife have met over 1,500 bereaved families and dealt with hostages, wounded soldiers, and societal tensions.

Herzog's comments come as Israel faces early elections and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial, with Netanyahu formally requesting a preemptive pardon on Nov. 30. Herzog, whose office holds pardon authority, called it an “extraordinary request” and pledged to consider it through a process involving the Justice Ministry, prioritizing “the best interest of the Israeli people.”

The request has drawn international attention, with President Donald Trump publicly urging a pardon. Herzog respected Trump's “friendship and his opinion,” crediting him for hostage releases and a U.N. Security Council resolution, but emphasized Israel's sovereignty: “Israel, naturally, is a sovereign country.”

Drawing on family history, his father, former President Chaim Herzog, issued a preemptive pardon, Herzog said any decision must balance “full equality under the law” with unique circumstances. He dismissed concerns about U.S. repercussions, calling relations with Trump's administration “warm, frank and open.”

Herzog also addressed shifting U.S. attitudes toward Israel, particularly among young people influenced by social media like TikTok. He linked skepticism to a “very aggressive PR machine” backed by Hamas allies, urging “fair reporting, not fake reporting.” He affirmed Israel's value as a “strategic ally” and “beacon of democracy,” contributing to U.S. security interests.

On criticisms of Israel's Gaza conduct, Herzog defended actions as self-defense under international law, regretting civilian suffering but blaming Hamas: “In order to rebuild Gaza, you have to get the mob out of the city. We have to get the terrorists out of the city.” He called for improved Israeli communication amid a “brainwashing machine” funded by billions.

Herzog rejected Netanyahu's rhetoric of Israel going alone, insisting on the U.S.-Israel alliance: “I utterly believe in the alliance between Israel and the United States.”Visiting New York for an honorary doctorate at Yeshiva University, Herzog responded to backlash over Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's win, which some Israelis called a fall of the “Big Apple.”

He admitted that Mamdani's statements concerned him but affirmed Jewish self-determination rights, recalling his father's U.N. stand against equating Zionism with racism. Herzog urged Mamdani to understand New York's Jewish community, where “Israel [is] minted in their DNA.”

Domestically, Herzog highlighted societal divides, including ultra-Orthodox military service, as key election issues. He aims to ensure honorable debate, favoring national unity governments to share burdens. On the left's viability post-2015, when he challenged Netanyahu, Herzog noted a “strong desire in Israel to change the reality” with Palestinians, viewing Oct. 7 as a “wake up call.” He stressed millions of Israelis want peace, but “you cannot shy away from it” naively, as “Hamas is still there believing that only terror can achieve this.”

Herzog's family legacy, connections to 15 U.S. presidents, shapes his optimism for shared biblical values between nations, despite challenges.