President Isaac Herzog’s office has begun a dramatic new effort aimed at exploring possible agreements in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal cases.

On Tuesday evening, Herzog’s legal adviser, attorney Michal Tzuk-Shafir, formally contacted both the prosecution and Netanyahu’s defense team, inviting them to participate in talks at the President’s Residence.

According to the President’s Office, the discussions are intended to examine whether understandings or agreements can be reached before Herzog considers any request related to a potential pardon.

Officials stressed that participation in the talks does not constitute agreement on any legal issue currently being litigated and does not affect either side’s arguments in court.

In her letter, Tzuk-Shafir wrote that President Herzog believes “the possibility of holding talks between the parties in order to reach agreements should first be exhausted” before any consideration of presidential powers.

She added that dialogue aimed at reaching a settlement is viewed positively by the courts and is especially important in cases at the center of Israel’s public debate.

Both sides were invited to attend “with an open heart and sincere intentions,” while remaining “free of commitments and conditions.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)