Israeli President Isaac Herzog has cleared the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian in the West Bank in 2016.
Herzog on Saturday approved Azaria’s request to shorten the remaining period before his criminal record would be erased, allowing it to be cleared immediately rather than in 2032. The decision came despite opposition from senior Israeli military officials.
Azaria, then a combat medic, shot 21-year-old Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in the head as he lay wounded and incapacitated in Hebron on 24 March 2016, around 11 minutes after al-Sharif had been shot following a stabbing attack on an Israeli soldier. The shooting was captured on video and triggered widespread controversy.
Herzog’s office said the decision reflected the time that had passed, the consequences Azaria had faced and the sorrow he had expressed, while stressing that it did not undermine the military court proceedings against him.
However, Israeli military officials had opposed the request. Army chief Eyal Zamir and other senior officers argued that Azaria had not expressed remorse or accepted responsibility for his actions. Azaria has previously maintained that he acted correctly.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter in January 2017 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. His sentence was later reduced by four months, and he was released in May 2018 after serving nine months.
Defence Minister Israel Katz, who backed Azaria’s request, welcomed Herzog’s decision, saying the former soldier had served his sentence and should be allowed to “open a new chapter” in his life.
The case deeply divided Israel, with senior military figures defending Azaria’s prosecution while prominent politicians and sections of the public rallied behind him.
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