President Herzog grants Elor Azaria pardon ahead of Yom Kippur, erases record

President Isaac Herzog has granted Elor Azaria a pardon, erasing his criminal record, as announced on Saturday. Azaria was convicted of manslaughter for shooting a Palestinian attacker in Hebron in 2016 and began his prison term in August 2024. The President's Office stated that "the circumstances as a whole, the passage of time, and the regret he expressed justify allowing him to open a new chapter in his life." Defense Minister Israel Katz welcomed the decision, calling it "a correct, humane and worthy decision, expressing the spirit of forgiveness and the possibility of opening a new chapter."