Court backs Israeli soldier killing ruling

An Israeli military court has upheld the 18-month sentence on a soldier convicted of fatally shooting a Palestinian attacker who lay wounded on the ground.

Press reports said that the court found no reason to accept Elor Azaria’s appeal and overturn the sentencing handed down after his conviction on a manslaughter charge.

Azaria’s trial deeply divided Israel. Azaria, an army medical orderly, was caught on video last year as he fatally shot the wounded Palestinian just after the man stabbed a soldier in the city of Hebron.

The Palestinian was lying unarmed on the ground.