Israeli businessman leaks information about a secret deal between Netanyahu and Herzog

Israeli businessman and strategic advisor, Moti Sander, made a major political revelation by disclosing the existence of a secret deal concluded five years ago between the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Sander, this deal stipulates that Netanyahu will support Herzog’s election as president in exchange for the latter granting Netanyahu a presidential pardon that would prevent his trial in the corruption cases attributed to him.

Moti Sander is an influential figure in the political circles in Israel, having led successful election campaigns for prominent figures such as Ehud Barak, and having close ties with both Netanyahu and Herzog.

Sander confirmed that he was Herzog’s messenger to Netanyahu to present this proposal.

According to details provided by Sander, Netanyahu and his wife Sara faced significant pressure to accept the deal to avoid imprisonment.

Sander relayed a touching scene in which Sara Netanyahu cried before her husband convinced her that this move was in their best interest.

Herzog feared that Netanyahu might nominate another figure from the Likud party who enjoyed right-wing support, or that Netanyahu himself might run for president to stop his trial according to the law.

Sander explained that he decided to reveal this “scandal” now because Herzog went too far in trying to appease Netanyahu with a pardon that didn’t include admitting the charge or waiving the sentence, which Sander considered a crime against the purity of the government.

He stressed that he supports granting a pardon and halting the trial that harms Israel, but only on the condition that Netanyahu admits his guilt and retires from political life completely.

For its part, President Herzog’s office strongly denied these allegations, emphasizing key points:

Deal denied: There was no agreement or understanding, whether explicit or implicit, linking the presidential elections and Netanyahu’s legal cases.

Request for pardon: Any request for pardon will only be processed in accordance with the law and upon the recommendation of the Pardons Department at the Ministry of Justice.

Sander’s denial: Herzog expressed his regret for what his friend Sander had said, and rejected his claims, describing them as false and defamatory.

In response, the Likud party accused Sander of lying, while the latter replied that Herzog’s men’s attempt to question his mental faculties under the pretext of Alzheimer’s was a despicable attempt to tarnish his reputation and hide the truth.

These leaks put the presidency and the government in a difficult position before public opinion and the judiciary.

As the gap of mutual denials widens, the question remains as to how much these allegations will affect the course of Netanyahu’s pending court cases, and whether they will lead to new investigations into suspicions of influence peddling to shield officials from legal accountability.