President Isaac Herzog appeared on Sunday to rebuff Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a pardon regarding the corruption charges he faces, saying that he would instead push for fresh talks to try and mediate a plea deal between the premier and the Attorney General.

Herzog’s statement came after a report in The New York Times said the president would seek mediation because he believes his job is to foster unity in Israel. Netanyahu’s trial on charges of bribery and fraud and breach of trust, which began in 2020, has divided the country along political lines.…