Israel Katz's populist push to pardon Elor Azaria puts Israel at serious risk - comment

Lead

Defense Minister Israel Katz has formally requested that President Isaac Herzog pardon and erase the criminal record of Elor Azaria, the former Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting an incapacitated Palestinian attacker in Hebron in 2016. The request, made on Tuesday, has reignited debate over the case, with critics arguing that the move is driven by political considerations rather than justice.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from the Jerusalem Post cover the story, each with a distinct focus. One report, an opinion piece, criticizes Katz's request as "a new low in acting purely from populist political instincts," warning that it will harm Israel's national interests both domestically and globally. The other report provides a straightforward news update, noting that Katz requested the pardon and confirming Azaria's 2017 conviction for manslaughter.

The opinion piece emphasizes that Katz acknowledged the IDF's opposition to the pardon. It also recalls that former president Reuben Rivlin declined to grant Azaria a pardon. The news report does not include these details, but both reports confirm the core facts of the conviction and the pardon request.

Key Claims

Elor Azaria was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 for shooting an incapacitated Palestinian attacker in the West Bank city of Hebron on March 24, 2016. According to the opinion piece, Azaria admitted to killing the attacker out of revenge. The attacker had been shot by another soldier and had been lying on the ground, barely moving, for about ten minutes before Azaria shot him.

Azaria was initially sentenced to 18 months in prison. The prosecution sought a 36-60 month sentence on appeal, arguing that the severity of his actions warranted a longer term. However, the sentence was reduced by the IDF chief and parole boards to 14 months and then to nine months. The opinion piece argues that Azaria "got off easy" because of the extreme circumstances, noting that his youth, lack of criminal record, and the stressful situation were all taken into account.

The opinion piece also reports that most of Azaria's legal team resigned when he tried to appeal his 18-month sentence, telling him he had been given a "gift." The resignation occurred despite the team having defended him throughout the trial.

The pardon request is the latest development in a case that has divided Israeli society, with supporters viewing Azaria as a scapegoat and critics condemning his actions as a violation of military ethics.