Herzog Wipes Criminal Record of Soldier Who Killed Palestinian

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has decided to expunge the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of killing a wounded Palestinian man, Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, in Hebron in 2016. Azaria shot al-Sharif in the head while he lay on the ground, approximately 11 minutes after being wounded by army fire.

Hersog's office stated the decision was made ahead of Yom Kippur, in the spirit of the High Holidays, emphasizing "reform, reconciliation, and the ability to move forward." The move came despite the Israeli military's official opposition to expunging Azaria's record. The President's office cited the passage of time since the incident, Azaria's completion of his sentence, statutes of limitations, and his personal and family circumstances, including his desire to remove obstacles to employment and "start a new chapter in his life."

Additional factors mentioned by Herzog's office included "complex medical circumstances" faced by Azaria's family and his perceived change in life since the case. It was noted that then-IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot had previously reduced Azaria's sentence from 18 to 14 months. The decision contrasts with the military's position, presented in July, where Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Head of the Manpower Directorate Dadi Bar Kalifa opposed the expungement. A letter from Assistant Chief of Staff Alon Laniado stated Azaria "refrained from expressing remorse and taking responsibility for his actions, even after a decade since his conviction."

Azaria's request emphasized his respect for IDF values and expressed regret for the consequences of the case. In a prior request to former President Reuven Rivlin, Azaria had described the shooting as an "operational error" in hindsight and stated he would not have done it if he could go back. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had previously urged Herzog to approve the request in July, citing the post-October 7th context and arguing it "provides a broader context for the circumstances in which IDF soldiers have operated over the years." Gallant welcomed the decision, stating it "sends an important message to IDF soldiers and their families: We do not abandon fighters and do not leave them behind."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also welcomed the decision, having previously protested in support of Azaria, and called for Herzog to also pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The original incident occurred on March 24, 2016, when Azaria, serving as a combat medic, shot al-Sharif after he had already been wounded and was lying on the ground. Azaria claimed he feared al-Sharif was wearing a suicide vest, but the military court rejected this, ruling he believed the Palestinian "deserved to die." He was convicted of manslaughter and initially sentenced to 18 months, later reduced to 14. After appeals were rejected, his sentence was further shortened, and he was released in May 2018, having served about nine months.