El'or Azaria Responds to Criminal Record Expungement

El'or Azaria has publicly responded for the first time since President Isaac Herzog decided to expunge his criminal record. Azaria expressed gratitude to President Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, his family, and his lawyer, Limor Baruch. He stated, "Thank God we have reached this moment," and "I am dealing with all the joy regarding the publication of the expungement of the criminal record by the President of the State."

The decision to expunge Azaria's record was made on the eve of Yom Kippur, following a request from Azaria and a recommendation from Defense Minister Katz. Katz spoke with Azaria after the announcement, stating, "It is important for us to strengthen and support our soldiers, even if they find themselves in complex situations." Azaria replied, "For me, it remains in the past, it is very important that no soldier goes through what I went through."

The President's office explained that the decision was made after considering all circumstances of the case, including the passage of time, Azaria having served his sentence, his personal and family circumstances, and his desire to remove obstacles and start a new chapter in his life. President Herzog emphasized that his decision does not challenge the legal proceedings of the case and is not a re-examination of it, clarifying that the institution of a pardon is one of grace, not an appellate court.

Azaria, a former IDF soldier, was convicted in 2017 of manslaughter for shooting and killing a Palestinian assailant who had already been subdued in Hebron in 2016. He served a nine-month prison sentence. The expungement of his criminal record removes a significant barrier to his future employment and personal life.