Israeli President Pardons Former Soldier Convicted of Killing Wounded Palestinian

JERUSALEM (Terror Monitor) — Israeli President Isaac Herzog has granted a pardon to former Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of shooting and killing a wounded Palestinian in Hebron in 2016. The decision, announced on Saturday, was reportedly opposed by the Israeli military.

Herzog said he had accepted Azaria’s request and decided to clear the remaining criminal record associated with his conviction. The president cited the passage of time, Azaria’s completion of his prison sentence and his expression of regret over the incident among the reasons for the decision.

According to Herzog’s office, the pardon is intended to give Azaria an opportunity to begin a new chapter in his life. The former soldier had also argued that his criminal record could create difficulties in finding employment.

The incident occurred in March 2016 in Hebron, where Azaria shot Palestinian Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif after he had been wounded and was lying on the ground. Video footage of the shooting triggered widespread controversy in Israel and led to Azaria’s prosecution by a military court.

Azaria was convicted in 2017 and initially sentenced to 18 months in prison. His sentence was later reduced, and he ultimately served about nine months.

Herzog said Azaria had previously told then-President Reuven Rivlin that the shooting was a mistake made during a military operation. Rivlin rejected Azaria’s earlier request for a pardon.

In his latest decision, Herzog also referred to the approaching Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, which begins at sunset on Sunday and is traditionally associated with repentance and forgiveness.

A statement from the president’s office said that, after considering the years Azaria had lived with the consequences of his actions and his expression of regret, Herzog concluded that the passage of time and the circumstances surrounding the case justified allowing him to start a new chapter.

However, the Israeli military has challenged the decision. Haaretz reported that a senior adviser to military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Azaria had not demonstrated genuine remorse or accepted responsibility for his actions, even years after his conviction.

Herzog’s office said Azaria had sought to clear his record partly because of potential difficulties in securing employment. The president also referred to unspecified “complex medical circumstances” affecting Azaria’s family.

Without the presidential pardon, reports said Azaria’s criminal record would not have been cleared until 2032.

The pardon does not erase the historical fact of Azaria’s conviction. Rather, it represents the exercise of the Israeli president’s authority to grant clemency and remove the continuing consequences of the criminal record.