The IDF Chief of Staff and Personnel Directorate chief have sent a letter to the defense minister's office opposing the request to shorten Elor Azaria's criminal record, stating that Azaria has never expressed remorse for his actions and that no new circumstances justify a change. The military's formal opinion has not yet been received by the president's office.
The IDF has formally opposed the request to expunge Elor Azaria's criminal record, with Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Personnel Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa sending a letter to the defense minister's office arguing that the request should not be granted. The letter, signed by Zamir's assistant Col. Alon Laniado, cites Azaria's failure to express remorse and the absence of new circumstances as key reasons.
The development follows a series of moves earlier today. At 10:54, the President's Residence said it was awaiting remaining IDF assessments before deciding. At 11:14, Defense Minister Israel Katz formally requested a presidential pardon for Azaria. The IDF's opposition, first reported at 11:11, has now been formalized in writing.
Azaria, a former Kfir Brigade soldier, was convicted of manslaughter in 2016 for fatally shooting a wounded Palestinian attacker in Hebron. He served nine months of an 18-month sentence. The debate over his criminal record has reignited in recent days, with Katz supporting expungement and the IDF leadership opposing it on legal and disciplinary grounds.
President Isaac Herzog has not yet responded to the pardon request. The military's formal opinion has not been received by his office, and no timeline for a decision has been announced.
8 developments
- DevelopingDefense minister leans toward erasing Elor Azaria's criminal record, report says
- StrongKatz seeks swift IDF opinion on expunging Elor Azaria's criminal record
- DevelopingPresident's Residence says it has not yet received IDF assessments on Azaria record expungement request
- DevelopingYa'alon blames political echelon for West Bank 'pogroms' in first response to 'Mein Kampf' remark
Source and signal
- Internal intake