Israeli president pardons soldier in Hebron killing

Israeli President Isaac Herzog granted a pardon Saturday to former soldier Elor Azaria, clearing the remaining period of his criminal record after his manslaughter conviction over the 2016 killing of Palestinian attacker Abdul Fatah al-Sharif in Hebron.

Azaria had been freed from prison in May 2018 after serving nine months, half of his original sentence. He had been a sergeant and military medic when he shot Sharif in the head.

Sharif had stabbed and wounded a soldier, then had already been shot by Israeli troops and was lying on the ground for about 11 minutes before Azaria fired the fatal shot.

Herzog's office said the president decided that the circumstances, the time that had passed and the sorrow Azaria expressed justified allowing him to begin a new chapter in his life. It said the decision was made in the spirit of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Azaria said at trial that he feared Sharif was wearing an explosive belt and could blow himself up. Judges rejected that claim.

In July, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir told Herzog that the army opposed Azaria's request, saying Azaria had refrained from expressing remorse and taking responsibility for his actions.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir welcomed the pardon on X, saying the criminal record should never have existed.