Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Prosecutor Amit Eisman indicated early Monday that they are prepared to explore the possibility of a plea agreement in the legal cases involving Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, responding favorably to a request from President Isaac Herzog.

In her response, the Attorney General noted that the State values the President’s efforts to help bring the cases toward resolution through a negotiated agreement, and said she is willing to enter into meaningful discussions with Netanyahu’s defense team to assess whether such an arrangement is viable.

The letter stated that any talks aimed at reaching a plea deal would proceed without preconditions on either side. It also stressed that these discussions would take place “in parallel” with the ongoing trial and would not interfere with or delay court proceedings.

At this point, officials are avoiding discussion of the logistical and substantive aspects of the potential negotiations, including how the meetings will be structured, who will participate, where they will be held, and which legal issues will be addressed.

The development follows outreach last week by the President’s legal adviser, Michal Tsuk-Shafir, who contacted both the prosecution and defense in Netanyahu’s cases and invited them to engage in “contacts aimed at reaching agreements.”

A statement from the President’s Residence explained that “this process is intended to examine the possibility of advancing understandings and agreements, and constitutes only a preliminary stage before the President holds a discussion on the pardon request itself. The sides were asked to come promptly, in good faith and with proper intentions. It was made clear to the parties that agreeing to the invitation does not imply any consent or approval on their part regarding any disputed matter in court.”

In her communication to the parties, Tsuk-Shafir wrote: “The President of the State, after consulting with me, believes that before considering the exercise of his authority regarding the request submitted in the matter of the Prime Minister, the possibility of holding contacts between the sides in order to reach agreements should be exhausted.”

She added, “It seems there is no dispute over the value of holding a conciliatory dialogue that ends in an agreement. This procedure is considered proper and efficient in the eyes of the courts as well, all the more so in matters at the heart of public debate in Israel. The President has repeatedly expressed his support for dialogue directed at reaching agreements between the parties.”

Tsuk-Shafir invited representatives of both sides to meet at the President’s Residence “in good faith and with proper intentions,” emphasizing that each side “enters the room free of any commitments or preconditions.”

{Matzav.com}