Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday pardoned former combat medic Elor Azaria and shortened the waiting period for the erasure of his criminal record, effectively clearing it nearly a decade after Azaria was convicted of manslaughter for killing Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. Al-Sharif had stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier before Israeli forces shot him, leaving him injured and incapacitated; a cellphone video showed Azaria approaching and firing a shot into his head [aljazeera.com][theguardian.com][wral.com]. Herzog’s office cited the time elapsed, Azaria’s completion of his sentence, remorse he had expressed and the approaching Yom Kippur holiday. The decision followed a recommendation from Defense Minister Israel Katz. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir opposed it, saying Azaria had not shown remorse or accepted responsibility for his actions [theguardian.com][haaretz.com][ynetnews.com]. Highlights: • Azaria was 20 years old when he was sentenced [theguardian.com]. • Azaria argued that he feared al-Sharif might be carrying explosives, but military judges rejected that explanation [protothema.gr][naftemporiki.gr]. • The case drew enormous attention in Israel, where military service is compulsory for most Jewish men [theguardian.com][wral.com]. • Defense Minister Israel Katz congratulated Herzog after the pardon [haber7.com]. Perspectives: Israeli presidency: The decision also considered changes in Azaria’s personal and family circumstances; he is now a father of two [skai.gr]. (SKAI) Israeli military leadership: In a July opinion, the military said no exceptional new circumstances warranted changing earlier decisions [ynetnews.com]. (Ynetnews) Defense Ministry: Defense Minister Israel Katz said the pardon conveyed that Israel does not leave its soldiers and their families behind [haaretz.com][haber7.com]. (Haaretz) Palestinian and Israeli critics viewed the killing of an incapacitated Palestinian as unlawful, while supporters described Azaria as a soldier who defended Israel [nytimes.com][theguardian.com]. (The New York Times) "I would act exactly the same, because that’s how I needed to act" — Elor Azaria Sources: • Israel’s president pardons soldier who killed wounded Palestinian in 2016 - aljazeera.com • Israeli President Pardons Ex-Soldier Over Killing of Incapacitated Palestinian - nytimes.com • Israel Pardons Combat Medic Who Shot Dead Wounded Palestinian Attacker - ndtv.com • Herzog pardons soldier who killed incapacitated Palestinian stabber in 2016, against IDF position - timesofisrael.com • Israeli president pardons combat medic who shot dead wounded Palestinian attacker - theguardian.com • Israels president pardons soldier who killed wounded Palestinian in 2016 - indiavision.com • President Herzog pardons Elor Azaria, IDF soldier convicted of 2016 killing of wounded Palestinian assailant - haaretz.com • Israel's president pardons a combat medic whose shooting of a Palestinian attacker caused debate - wral.com • Israel’s president clears criminal record of soldier who killed wounded Palestinian - aa.com.tr • Israeli President Grants Full Pardon to Soldier Who Executed Wounded Palestinian in Hebron - alquds.com • Le président israélien gracie un soldat qui avait achevé un assaillant palestinien blessé d’une balle dans la tête - leparisien.fr • Ο Ισραηλινός πρόεδρος έδωσε χάρη σε πρώην στρατιώτη που είχε σκοτώσει τραυματισμένο Παλαιστίνιο στη Δυτική Όχθη - protothema.gr • Contrary to IDF’s position, Herzog pardons soldier who killed subdued Palestinian stabber in 2016 - reddit.com • الرئيس الإسرائيلي يعفو عن جندي قتل فلسطينياً مصاباً في الضفة الغربية - aawsat.com • Ισραήλ: Χάρη σε στρατιώτη που σκότωσε τραυματισμένο Παλαιστίνιο στη Χεβρώνα - skai.gr • رئيس كيان الاحتلال يعفو عن جندي قتل فلسطينيا مصابا بعد طرحه أرضا - shehabnews.com • Ισραήλ: Ο πρόεδρος Χέρτζοκ απένειμε χάρη σε στρατιώτη που πυροβόλησε και σκότωσε Παλαιστίνιο δράστη που κείτονταν τραυματισμένος στο έδαφος - naftemporiki.gr • President Herzog grants Elor Azaria pardon ahead of Yom Kippur, erases record - jpost.com • Herzog clears record of Elor Azaria, soldier convicted of killing wounded terrorist - ynetnews.com • President Herzog pardons Elor Azaria's criminal record - ynetnews.com • Ισραήλ: Ο Χέρτζοκ απένειμε χάρη σε στρατιώτη που πυροβόλησε και σκότωσε Παλαιστίνιο δράστη, ενώ αυτός κείτονταν τραυματισμένος στο έδαφος - capital.gr • İsrail'den o asker için akılalmaz karar! Yerde yatan Filistinliyi acımasızca öldürmüştü - haber7.com --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News