Key facts
- Defense Minister Israel Katz has asked President Isaac Herzog to pardon former soldier Elor Azaria.
- Azaria was convicted of manslaughter for killing a wounded Palestinian man in Hebron in 2016.
- Azaria has stated he has "no remorse whatsoever" for his actions.
- The army chief of staff and army personnel directorate chief recommended against granting the pardon request.
- President Herzog's office confirmed receipt of the request and is awaiting additional opinions.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has formally requested that President Isaac Herzog grant a pardon and expunge the criminal record of Elor Azaria, a former Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter for killing a wounded Palestinian man in Hebron in 2016. The incident occurred 11 minutes after Azaria shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, who was lying motionless on the ground.
Azaria was sentenced to 18 months in prison but was released after serving 14 months. He has reportedly expressed no remorse for his actions. This is not the first attempt to secure a pardon for Azaria; a previous request, supported by former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, was rejected by former President Reuven Rivlin.
Katz argued in his letter that imposing a severe penalty sends a negative message to soldiers serving in dangerous combat units. The request comes shortly after the army reportedly approved the return to duty of soldiers accused of torturing and raping a Palestinian detainee. However, both the current army chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, and the army personnel directorate chief, Major General Dado Bar Kalifa, have recommended against granting Azaria's pardon request.
The Office of the President has confirmed receipt of Katz's request and stated that it is awaiting further necessary opinions before proceeding.