Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke with Elor Azaria on Saturday evening, congratulating him on the expungement of his criminal record. Katz said it is important to support soldiers who found themselves in complex situations. Azaria responded that he has left the affair behind and hopes no soldier endures what he went through.
Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke with Elor Azaria on Saturday evening, congratulating him on the expungement of his criminal record and telling him it is important to support soldiers who find themselves in complex situations. Azaria responded that he has put the matter behind him and hopes no soldier endures what he went through. The call came hours after Azaria issued his first public statement on the expungement, thanking President Isaac Herzog, Katz, and his family.
The sequence of events on Saturday began at 19:34 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer reported that President Herzog had officially expunged Azaria's criminal record, following Defense Minister Katz's signing of the pardon form despite opposition from IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. At the same time, the President's Residence clarified that Azaria had expressed remorse during the pardon process. Azaria then issued his first public response at 21:19 Jerusalem, thanking the president and defense minister. Katz's call to Azaria later that evening represents the latest development in the decade-long saga.
As The Zioneer has reported, the decision to expunge Azaria's record was made over the objection of the IDF chief of staff and the military's top legal officials. Former defense minister Moshe Ya'alon, who resigned over the 2016 affair, has said there is room to consider expunging the record. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the move and called on President Herzog to also pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The legal chapter is now formally closed, but the broader debate over military ethics and rules of engagement continues. Azaria has stated he hopes no soldier endures what he went through.
8 developments
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz signs cancellation of Elor Azaria's criminal record; decision now to President
- DevelopingDefense minister leans toward erasing Elor Azaria's criminal record, report says
- StrongKatz seeks swift IDF opinion on expunging Elor Azaria's criminal record
- DevelopingYa'alon: 'Room to consider' expunging Elor Azaria's criminal record
Source and signal
- Open-source intake