Defense Minister Praises President's Decision to Clear Azaria's Criminal Record

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday welcomed President Isaac Herzog's decision to cancel the criminal record of former IDF soldier Elor Azaria. Katz stated that the decision, made on the eve of Yom Kippur, is "correct, humane, and appropriate, expressing the spirit of forgiveness and the opportunity to turn a new page."

Azaria, an IDF sergeant, was convicted in 2017 of manslaughter for shooting and killing a Palestinian assailant who had already been subdued and neutralized in Hebron in March 2016. He served nine months of a 14-month prison sentence and was released in May 2018. The cancellation of his criminal record means Azaria will no longer have a felony conviction on his record, which could have impacted future employment and other aspects of his life.