Elor Azaria Reacts to Criminal Record Expungement

Former IDF soldier Elor Azaria has broken his silence following President Isaac Herzog's decision to expunge his criminal record. Azaria expressed gratitude to President Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, his family, and his lawyer, Limor Baruch, for their support throughout the process.

"Blessed is God that we have reached this moment," Azaria told Channel 14. "I am dealing with all the joy over the announcement of the expungement of the criminal record by the President of the State." He specifically thanked Katz for accompanying the move that led to the record's removal.

Defense Minister Katz spoke with Azaria after the decision, calling it "correct, humane, and worthy." Katz stated, "It is important for us to strengthen and support our soldiers, even if they find themselves in complex situations." Azaria responded, "For me, this is 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, including the passage of time, Azaria having served his sentence, his personal and family situation, and his desire to remove obstacles and start a new chapter. President Herzog emphasized that his decision does not challenge the legal proceedings of the case and is not a review of it, clarifying that the presidential pardon is an act of grace, not an appellate court.

The expungement comes nearly a decade after the controversial incident.