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Herzog erases criminal record of former soldier who killed wounded Palestinian
Israeli President Isaac Herzog erased the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who killed wounded Palestinian Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. Azaria was released early in May 2018 after serving about nine months of an 18-month prison sentence.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog erased the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria. On March 24, 2016, Azaria opened fire on Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif, a wounded Palestinian lying in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron. Al-Sharif died.
The decision was taken after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz submitted an application following Azaria's completion of his sentence. Herzog's office cited the time that had passed since the incident and the former soldier's having served the sentence imposed on him among the reasons for the decision.
The office said that consideration was also given to enabling Azaria to start a new chapter in his life. It added that the circumstances experienced by the Azaria family since the start of the legal proceedings had also been assessed, and maintained that the decision was not intended to weaken or interfere with judicial proceedings.
The Israeli army said Azaria had avoided expressing regret for his actions and accepting responsibility. Katz welcomed Herzog's decision and said it would allow Azaria to start a new chapter in his life.
The incident in Hebron and the court ruling
The incident took place in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron, in the southern West Bank. Azaria, who was serving in the Israeli army, opened fire on Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif, who was wounded and lying on the ground.
In January 2017, an Israeli military court convicted Azaria of manslaughter. The former soldier was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but then-Israeli Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot reduced the sentence by four months.
Azaria was released from prison in May 2018 under an early-release decision after serving about nine months. Last July, Katz applied to Herzog, noting that more than 10 years had passed since the incident and that the former soldier had served his full sentence.
Disagreement in Israel
The case caused deep divisions in Israel at the time. While military officials defended the prosecution, some politicians and members of the public called for a pardon for Azaria.
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