Netanyahu urges pardon for soldier who killed Palestinian
TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a pardon for a soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead a wounded Palestinian attacker as he lay on the ground.
Elor Azaria, whose military trial since May has deeply divided Israel, was convicted yesterday, with right-wing politicians defending him despite top army brass condemning his actions.
He now faces up to 20 years in prison.
Reacting to the conviction, Netanyahu called for the 20-yearold French-Israeli sergeant to be pardoned.
“This has been a hard and painful day for us all – first and foremost for Elor and his family,” Netanyahu wrote on Facebook.
“I support giving a pardon to Elor Azaria.”
Netanyahu made waves before the trial even began by calling Azaria’s father to express his sympathy.
President Reuven Rivlin’s office had earlier said any talk of a pardon was premature and that an application could only be made after the judicial process had run its course.
No date has yet been announced for sentencing, and Azaria could then appeal.
Judge Colonel Maya Heller spent more than two and a half hours reading out the court decision, criticising the arguments of Azaria’s lawyers.
On behalf of the three-judge panel, Heller said there was no reason for Azaria to open fire since the Palestinian was posing no threat.
She called his testimony “evolving and evasive”.
“His motive for shooting was that he felt the terrorist deserved to die,” she said.
Azaria had entered the courtroom smiling, applauded by family and supporters.
But he looked shaken as the judge spoke, and after the verdict his mother yelled: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, where the court announced the verdict, dozens of Azaria supporters scuffled with police.
Shabtay Oz, a retired policeman carrying a large Israeli flag, said he never imagined himself joining a demonstration. — AFP