Netanyahu ‘not leaving’ politics for pardon, PM says next to Germany’s Merz
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz holds a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, December 7, 2025. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen during a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in Jerusalem, December 7, 2025 (Photo credit: ALEX KOLOMOISKY/POOL)
Netanyahu also praised cooperation between Israel and Germany in the fields of high technology, AI and quantum technologies.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Sunday that he would not leave politics even if President Isaac Herzog granted him a presidential pardon, publicly addressing the issue for the first time after a week of scrutiny.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Jerusalem with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu dismissed speculation that clemency could be conditional on a political exit.
“They are very concerned about my future,” he says with a laugh. “Well, so do the voters, and they’ll decide, obviously.”
His comments come as Herzog continues to review Netanyahu’s extraordinary pardon request, submitted last week. The president’s office highlighted the “significant implications” of the decision and noted that the process was still in its early stages while legal evaluations were still being developed by the Justice Department’s pardons department.
The pardon request did not change the trial schedule: Netanyahu is still scheduled to testify this week, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the press conference, Netanyahu was asked whether Berlin had invited him for an official visit despite sensitivities abroad, including outstanding arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court. Merz said the topic did not come up during their discussions.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netnayhu meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, December 7, 2025. (credit: Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO))
Netanyahu added that it was not political considerations that prevented him from visiting Germany. “Of course I would be happy to visit Germany again and talk with the chancellor there, to bring our governments together – I think that is important,” he said. “The reason we don’t go there is because there is an ICC prosecutor.”
Merz’s visit comes as Israel awaits the expected return of the last October 7 hostage, Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, a development that shaped the Prime Minister’s movements and public messages.
The question of whether a pardon request could influence Netanyahu’s political future — or his ability to continue serving during his trial — has dominated Israeli political debate.
Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.
