Katz seeks pardon for soldier who killed subdued Palestinian stabber; IDF opposed

Defense Minister Israel Katz has requested a pardon for former soldier Elor Azaria, convicted of killing a subdued Palestinian attacker in Hebron in 2016. The pardon seeks to expedite the clearing of Azaria's criminal record, which is currently set for 2032. The Israeli military, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, opposes the pardon, citing Azaria's lack of remorse and the absence of exceptional circumstances. Katz, however, stated, "It is unreasonable that after a decade, an outstanding soldier who was convicted of an offense committed during his operational service should continue to pay such a heavy price." The incident and the pardon request highlight deep societal divisions in Israel regarding military conduct in the West Bank.