The IDF has expressed opposition to a request to expunge the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, according to Amit Segal (N12). The development comes after Defense Minister Israel Katz formally submitted the request earlier today.
The IDF has come out against a request to expunge the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter in 2016 for shooting a wounded Palestinian assailant in Hebron. According to Amit Segal (N12), the military's position is that it opposes the move. The report follows Defense Minister Israel Katz's formal request to the Chief of Staff earlier today to clear Azaria's record, arguing the soldier should not continue to bear the consequences a decade later. The IDF's stance sets up a potential clash between the defense establishment and the political echelon over the case, which remains a deeply divisive issue in Israeli society. No further details on the military's reasoning have been reported.
7 developments
- StrongKatz seeks swift IDF opinion on expunging Elor Azaria's criminal record
- DevelopingDefense minister leans toward erasing Elor Azaria's criminal record, report says
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz formally requests presidential pardon for Elor Azaria
- StrongPresident awaits IDF assessments before deciding on Azaria record expungement
Source and signal
- Internal intake