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Trial in fatal shooting exposed rifts in society
An Israeli soldier who fatally shot an unarmed, wounded Palestinian attacker is convicted of manslaughter after a lengthy trial that exposed deep rifts in Israeli society.
An Israeli soldier who fatally shot an unarmed, wounded Palestinian attacker was convicted of manslaughter Wednesday after a lengthy trial that exposed deep rifts in Israeli society.
A three-judge panel at a military court in Tel Aviv rejected arguments made by Sgt. Elor Azaria’s defense team, Israel media reported. “The fact that the man on the ground was a terrorist does not justify a disproportionate response,” said Col. Maya Heller, delivering the verdict.
Azaria, 20, an army medic, was caught on video shooting Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, 21, as he was lying on the ground in the West Bank in March. The shooting took place at a military checkpoint shortly after Sharif and a companion, Ramzi al-Qasrawi, attacked Israeli troops with knives in Hebron, wounding one soldier. Israeli forces shot both attackers, wounding Sharif and killing Qasrawi.
The video footage then shows Azaria calmly walking up to a motionless Sharif and shooting him in the head. Lawyers for the defense argued that Azaria believed Sharif may have been wearing a concealed explosive vest and that he was acting in self defense.
Prosecutors successfully argued Azaria sought revenge for the Israeli soldier who was stabbed.
Azaria will be sentenced Jan. 15 and faces a maximum prison term of 20 years, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported. Azaria’s defense team said it would appeal.
The case struck a chord in Israel, where some in the country’s military establishment and right-wing politicians have condemned the trial and argue he is innocent of any crime. There is also deep sympathy for soldiers in Israel, where military service is compulsory for Israel’s Jewish majority.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed in hours after the verdict, calling for Azaria to be pardoned. He also urged the public to support the army and its commanders.
Large segments of Israeli society have rallied behind him. Scuffles erupted outside the courtroom between Azaria’s supporters and police officers while the court read its decision for nearly an hour and a half. Israeli media reported that hundreds of demonstrators blocked a major Tel Aviv intersection near the courtroom and clashed with police.
“Despite the difficult verdict, the defense establishment will do everything it can to assist the soldier and his family,” said Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who disagrees with the verdict. “We must keep the army outside every political argument.”