Israeli President Herzog Pardons Former Soldier Azaria Weeks Before Election
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has pardoned Elor Azaria, a former IDF soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a Palestinian attacker who had already been subdued. The pardon, announced on Wednesday, comes less than 40 days before the upcoming general election.
Azaria was convicted in January 2017 for the 2016 killing of Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a term later reduced to nine months. The incident sparked widespread debate in Israel, dividing public opinion between those who saw Azaria as a hero and those who viewed him as a murderer.
The pardon effectively ends Azaria's military service and any further legal proceedings against him. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with some supporting the president's move and others criticizing it as politically motivated given the proximity to the election.
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