President Isaac Herzog has signaled he will base any decision on Netanyahu’s pending pre-verdict pardon request solely on substantive legal and national-interest grounds, having previously favored mediated plea talks over clemency and noted the absence of an admission of guilt or resignation. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana’s October 11 appeal to Herzog, citing former Attorney General Mandelblit’s testimony about investigative overreach and incomplete review of the indictment, intensified coalition pressure for immediate action. Netanyahu’s late-2025 request remains under review amid ongoing corruption proceedings, with the Justice Ministry reportedly positioned to advise against unconditional relief. Trader consensus reflects these structural barriers and Herzog’s consistent emphasis on procedural norms, tempered by any trial developments that could alter the evidentiary or political landscape before year-end.