Israeli Defense Minister Requests Presidential Pardon for Elor Azaria

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Ketz has submitted a pardon request to President Isaac Herzog to erase the criminal record of Elor Azaria. In his letter, Ketz argued that it is unreasonable for a decorated soldier convicted of an offense committed during operational service to continue paying a heavy price after a decade. He emphasized that the ongoing punishment sends a negative message to Israeli youth serving in combat units and dangerous positions, and called for Azaria to be allowed to rehabilitate and start a new life.

The Azaria case dates back about ten years when two Palestinian assailants from Hebron attacked an IDF post at Tel Rumeida, stabbing a soldier. The attackers were shot by soldiers; one was killed and the other severely wounded. Moments later, Sergeant Elor Azaria shot the wounded attacker, Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, in the head, killing him. The incident was recorded by a Hebron resident and widely publicized.

Following an operational investigation, Azaria was charged by the Military Police Investigations Unit and tried in a Central Command military court. In early 2017, he was convicted of manslaughter and improper conduct, sentenced to 18 months in prison, 12 months probation, and demoted to private. After a military pardon request to Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, his sentence was reduced to 14 months. Azaria served nine months before being released early for good behavior. The current pardon request seeks to clear his criminal record entirely.