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Israeli President Pardons Former Soldier Elor Azaria Convicted in 2016 Killing
Just the facts
In March 2016, Azaria fatally shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif as al-Sharif lay incapacitated on the ground following an attempted knife attack against Israeli soldiers in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. A military tribunal convicted Azaria of manslaughter in 2017, handing down an 18-month prison sentence that was later reduced to nine months prior to his release in 2018. President Herzog's decision to grant the pardon fully clears Azaria's criminal record, which had previously imposed legal restrictions on his employment and civil status. Palestinian officials and international human rights organizations criticized the clemency decision, asserting that expunging the conviction undermines judicial accountability for military conduct in the Palestinian territories.
Why this is news
Israeli President Isaac Herzog issued an official pardon to former Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, expunging his criminal record from a 2016 manslaughter conviction. The presidential action follows years of petitions by right-wing Israeli political figures seeking full clemency for Azaria.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.