--- title: "Israeli President's Office dismisses reports of a deal with Netanyahu: rotation for pardon" description: "The office of Israeli President Isaac Herzog has denied reports from C14 about a deal allegedly prepared with Benjamin Netanyahu: two years in power in exchange for a pardon and withdrawal from politics." date: 2026-10-29T11:05:50.458Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/israel-president-office-denies-netanyahu-deal tags: [israel, netanyahu, herzog, elections, knnesset, politics] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Israeli President's Office dismisses reports of a deal with Netanyahu: rotation for pardon ![Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in front of blue curtains during a political statement.](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/29/kancleriya-prezidenta-izrailya-oproverzhaet-sdelku-s-netanjahu/kancleriya-prezidenta-izrailya-oproverzhaet-sdelku-s-netanjahu-1.webp) ## Key Points - C14 reported that President Herzog has been promoting a rotation initiative for about two years: Netanyahu leads the government for two years, then leaves politics in exchange for a pardon. - The President's Office labeled the report a "total fake" and stated it does not engage in speculation about government formation procedures. - Preliminary data (85% of votes): Netanyahu's bloc – 53 mandates, "Yashar" bloc – 48, Arab parties – 19; 61 are needed for a majority. - Official results are expected to be presented to the president on November 4 after the processing of "double envelopes." The C14 television channel reported on the preparation of a political agreement in Israel between President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which would provide for a rotation in the government leadership in exchange for a pardon and the prime minister's final withdrawal from politics. The President's Office officially denied this information, calling the publication a "total fake." This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing C14 and comments from a well-informed source in political circles. ### Essence of the alleged initiative According to the C14 channel, President Isaac Herzog has been promoting this initiative for about two years. It is considered as one of the possible options for forming a new government while maintaining the current distribution of parliamentary mandates. It was suggested that Netanyahu would be the first to lead the cabinet as part of the rotation to work with US President Donald Trump for two years. The main condition of such an agreement would be the prime minister's final withdrawal from politics in exchange for a pardon. ### Official denial from the Office The head of state's office denied this information. "Total fake, nothing like that has happened or is happening. We are not involved in speculation regarding the procedure for authorizing the formation of a government," the statement said. Thus, officially, neither side has confirmed the existence of a prepared agreement. ### Alternative scenarios and powers limitations According to C14, besides rotation, other scenarios are being considered: engaging left-wing politicians, creating a minority government with the support of the "Joint List," or scheduling repeat elections. As a source from Israel's political circles noted to RBC-Ukraine, the president cannot organize such a deal with Netanyahu on his own: "He has the right to pardon him, but the rotation of the prime minister in two years must be negotiated with the current opposition within the framework of a national unity government." ### Context: preliminary results and counting disputes According to preliminary results from 85% of the votes counted, Netanyahu's right-wing bloc secured 53 out of 120 seats in the Knesset; the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party claimed 48 mandates, and the Arab parties "Ra'am" and the "Joint List" together could get 19 seats. At least 61 mandates are needed to form a parliamentary majority. Netanyahu himself did not officially declare victory but stated that his coalition had received a "decisive majority" among Jewish voters. The Likud party accused Arab political forces of falsifying results and demanded an investigation, claiming the existence of "hundreds of testimonies and evidence of violations" that have not yet been released. ### Procedure and timeline Official election results are expected to reach President Herzog on November 4. Currently, "double envelope" ballots, including votes from military personnel and other categories of voters, are being processed. After this, the president will hold consultations with parliamentary factions and make a decision within the scope of his authority. ## Accounts differ ### Existence of the rotation and pardon initiative - **C14 TV Channel:** President Isaac Herzog has been promoting an initiative for about two years where Netanyahu would first lead the government for two years in a rotation scheme, then withdraw from politics in exchange for a pardon. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidstavka-obmin-pomiluvannya-zmi-zayavili-1793269383.html)) - **Office of the President of Israel:** The publication is a "total fake," nothing of the sort has happened or is happening, and the office does not engage in speculation regarding the procedure of authorizing a government formation. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidstavka-obmin-pomiluvannya-zmi-zayavili-1793269383.html)) *Where they agree:* No formal agreement has been signed; official election results are not yet finalized. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Отставка в обмен на помилование: в СМИ заявили о сделке президента Израиля с Нетаньяху](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vidstavka-obmin-pomiluvannya-zmi-zayavili-1793269383.html) - Source: C14 report on rotation and pardon initiative, official denial by the President's Office, preliminary results (53/48/19 seats), and political source commentary. The substance of the 'deal' is unconfirmed and denied by the relevant party. ## FAQ ### What did the Israeli President's Office say about the 'deal' with Netanyahu? It called the C14 report a "total fake," stating that nothing of the sort occurred and that the office does not engage in speculation regarding government formation procedures. ### When will the president receive the official election results? By November 4, following the processing of "double envelope" ballots, including votes from military personnel and other categories of voters. ### How many seats did the blocks get according to preliminary data? Netanyahu's right-wing bloc – 53 seats, the "Yashar" bloc – 48, and the Arab "Ra'am" and "Joint List" parties – 19; a parliamentary majority requires at least 61 seats.