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. Herzog reportedly feels that those tensions have been exacerbated by Israel’s recent wars and this year’s election, which is due to take place in six months. Herzog’s statement on Sunday confirmed that he wouldn’t be issuing a pardon to the prime minister at this point.…