Herzog Erases the Criminal Record of the Soldier Who Killed Martyr Abdel Fattah Sharif in Hebron

Tel Aviv - Afaq News - Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced this evening, Saturday, that he has decided to erase the criminal record of former soldier Elor Azaria, who shot a Palestinian who was injured and lying on the ground in Hebron.

Herzog's office stated that the decision came after considering several factors, including the time that has passed since the shooting incident, Azaria's serving of the sentence imposed on him, and the desire to enable him to "turn a new page in his life."

The Israeli president's office added that Herzog also took into account "the complex medical circumstances faced by Azaria's family during the years since the beginning of the case," emphasizing that the decision "does not come to question the judicial procedures that took place in the case or to undermine them."

In contrast, the Israeli army criticized the decision, announcing that it recommended to the Minister of Defense not to approve it, stating that "Azaria refrained from expressing remorse and taking responsibility for his actions."

Last July, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz requested Herzog to erase Azaria's criminal record, who was convicted of killing a Palestinian who was injured and lying on the road in the city of Hebron.

In a message addressed to the Israeli president, Katz requested to grant Azaria a pardon, noting that more than a decade has passed since the incident, and that Azaria has served his full prison sentence, which began in 2018.

Katz clarified that the current request only pertains to shortening the duration required to erase the criminal record, after the statute of limitations stipulated by law has expired.

Katz welcomed Herzog's decision, saying: "On the eve of Yom Kippur, this is a correct, humane, and deserved decision, reflecting the spirit of forgiveness and the possibility of turning a new page."

Soldier Azaria was convicted of killing martyr Abdul Fattah al-Sharif while he was injured and lying on the ground in Hebron in 2016, and he was sentenced to actual imprisonment for a year and a half, but he was released after less than nine months in prison.