Herzog pardons IDF soldier who killed Palestinian terrorist in 2016 in case that divided Israel

Israeli President Isaac Herzog pardoned former IDF soldier Elor Azaria, nearly a decade after his 2017 manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting a wounded Palestinian assailant in Hebron in 2016. This pardon expunges Azaria's criminal record, which was set to be cleared in 2032. The decision, made on the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz, who called it "right, humane and appropriate," was based on the time elapsed, Azaria's completed sentence, and changes in his personal circumstances. Herzog's office noted Azaria expressed regret over the consequences and described the shooting as an "operational mistake." The case, which saw Azaria serve nine months of an 18-month sentence, was highly divisive in Israel, sparking debates on military ethics and rules of engagement.