Benjamin Netanyahu, February 12th, 2023
Benjamin Netanyahu, February 12th, 2023AMIT SHABI/POOL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has quietly resumed talks for a possible plea bargain arrangement to end his ongoing corruption trial, Ma’ariv reported Friday.

Citing sources with first-hand knowledge of the talks, Ma’ariv reported that officials close to the prime minister had begun unofficial negotiations with prominent opponents of the government’s judicial reform plan.

While the negotiations are primarily focused on reaching a compromise to ensure passage of a moderated version of the judicial reform package, the talks have expanded to include Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial and the possibility of a plea bargain.

In early 2022, Netanyahu, then Opposition Leader, was reportedly on the verge of signing a plea bargain, under which he would confess to one count of moral turpitude, forcing him to leave politics for at least seven years.

Former Supreme Court chief justice Aharon Barak confirmed the report, claiming that he had been asked to broker the initial contact between the two sides for talks on a plea bargain.

Netanyahu is said to have ultimately rejected the deal offered by prosecutors, refusing to retire from politics.

According to Friday’s report, the resumption of talks towards a plea bargain was sparked in part by the understanding on both sides that Netanyahu’s assistance will be essential in drafting a judicial reform compromise plan.

One major obstacle, however, is Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara’s opposition to Netanyahu having any involvement in the drafting of legislation related to judicial reform while he is under indictment, claiming any such action would be constitute a conflict of interest.

Baharav-Miara recently rejected a request from Netanyahu’s attorneys to allow the prime minister to respond to President Isaac Herzog’s call Sunday night for dialogue and compromise on judicial reform.