Defense Minister Israel Katz has submitted a formal request to expunge the criminal record of former IDF soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2016. In a letter to the Chief of Staff, Katz argued it is unreasonable for Azaria to continue paying a heavy price a decade after the incident, and that the move would send a positive message to soldiers serving in combat units.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has formally requested the expungement of Elor Azaria's criminal record, according to a statement from his office. In a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Katz wrote that it is 'unreasonable' for Azaria, a decorated combat soldier convicted of manslaughter for neutralizing an already-wounded Palestinian attacker in Hebron in 2016, to continue bearing the consequences a decade later. Katz argued the move would send a 'positive message' to soldiers serving in combat units and allow Azaria to rehabilitate and start a new life.
This follows a series of steps by Katz toward clemency. As The Zioneer reported Monday, Katz had approached IDF legal officials for a rapid opinion on the matter and was reportedly leaning toward recommending a presidential pardon. Earlier Tuesday, Katz submitted a clemency petition to President Isaac Herzog. The formal request to the military chain of command is a separate track, seeking to clear Azaria's criminal record through internal IDF mechanisms rather than a presidential pardon.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 and served nine months of an 18-month sentence. The case has remained a politically charged issue, with right-wing figures arguing he acted appropriately in a combat situation, while the military establishment and legal system maintain the conviction was just.
5 developments
- StrongKatz seeks swift IDF opinion on expunging Elor Azaria's criminal record
- StrongPresident awaits IDF assessments before deciding on Azaria record expungement
- DevelopingDefense minister leans toward erasing Elor Azaria's criminal record, report says
- DevelopingHadassah Ben-Itzhak: Katz rushed to condemn incitement against IDF chief, unlike Lapid
Source and signal
- Internal intake