Israeli President Pardons Soldier in Palestinian Killing

Israel President Isaac Herzog has pardoned Elor Azaria, the former combat medic convicted of manslaughter for shooting an incapacitated Palestinian attacker in Hebron in 2016. A cellphone video showed Azaria firing at Abdel-Fattah al-Sharif after he had been wounded and subdued following a stabbing attack; Azaria served nine months of an 18-month sentence. Herzog said the decision, which expedites the clearing of Azaria’s criminal record, reflected the time elapsed, Azaria’s expressed sorrow and the approaching Yom Kippur holiday, while emphasizing that it did not reassess the case. The pardon was supported by Defense Minister Israel Katz and welcomed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, but opposed by senior military leaders and criticized by Palestinians and human rights advocates as too lenient.