Israel President Pardons Former Soldier Elor Azaria
Israel's President Isaac Herzog pardoned Elor Azaria today. Azaria is a former soldier and combat medic.
He was convicted of manslaughter in 2017. The pardon clears his criminal record faster.
It shortens the wait before erasing his record. Israel's military chief opposed the pardon.
But Defense Minister Israel Katz supported it. Herzog said enough time had passed.
He also noted Azaria finished his sentence and showed remorse. Herzog cited changes in Azaria's family and job too.
Azaria served two-thirds of an 18-month sentence. He was released before getting the pardon.
In 2016 Azaria shot and killed a wounded Palestinian attacker. The attacker had stabbed a soldier in the occupied West Bank.
The case divided opinion inside Israel. It also sparked debate abroad over Israeli military actions.
Key Terms 5
- Elor Azaria Former Israeli soldier convicted of killing a wounded attacker in 2016.
- Isaac Herzog Israel's president who has power to pardon convicted people.
- manslaughter Killing someone without planning it in advance.
- West Bank A territory near Israel occupied by Israeli forces since 1967.
- pardon An official act forgiving someone's crime or reducing punishment.