Israeli President
The shooting took place after the Palestinian man, identified as Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, had already been incapacitated following an attempt to stab an Israeli soldier. Footage recorded on a mobile phone captured the moment Azaria shot the wounded man in the head while he lay on the ground. The case resulted in a rare conviction by an Israeli military court in 2017, leading to an 18-month prison sentence, of which Azaria served two-thirds before his release.
A Polarising Legal and Political Case
The decision to grant the pardon was made following a formal recommendation from Defence Minister
The case historically divided Israeli society. While top military commanders initially pushed for prosecution to uphold military standards, many members of the public rallied in support of the soldier, viewing his actions as necessary during a period marked by frequent stabbing and vehicle-ramming attacks. Protests were held outside the trial, and Benjamin Netanyahu, who was prime minister at the time of the conviction, had publicly called for a pardon.
Differing Perspectives on the Pardon
The pardon has received varied reactions within the Israeli political establishment. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating he was pleased that the criminal record of the former soldier had been cleared. Conversely, reports from Israeli media indicated that the military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, had opposed the pardon.
The legal proceedings surrounding the incident were also subject to criticism from human rights organisations and some Palestinian observers, who argued that the original 18-month sentence was excessively lenient. Prosecutors had initially sought a more severe penalty. In its statement regarding the pardon, the office of President Herzog clarified that the decision did not constitute a reassessment of the original judicial findings or the conviction itself.
