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al-Sharifs killer Elor Azraya
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Abdel Fattah al-Sharif 21
Ramsey Qasrawi 21 March 24 2016 |
22 apr 2016
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The Israeli occupation army on Friday released an Israeli soldier four days after he had been convicted of murdering a Palestinian youth, Israeli press reported.
According to the Israeli Yedioth Aharonot newspaper, the release came so as to allow the soldier to celebrate the Jewish Passover holiday with his family in al-Ramla city. The soldier was received by his father near an Israeli military camp in Tel Aviv and was transferred to his family home in al-Ramla, where he was received by a horde of extremist Israeli settlers. Four days earlier, the Jaffa military court convicted the soldier of causing the death of the Palestinian youth Abdul Fattah al-Sharif in al-Khalil city a |
few weeks ago. The soldier opened fire at al-Sharif while he was bleeding on the ground. Israeli preliminary investigations proved that the bullet fired by the newly-released soldier had caused his death.
Hebron soldier welcomed home to celebrations
Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot dead a neutralized terrorist in Hebron, allowed home for Seder dinner; right-wing activists waited outside his home with support signs as his mother told him: 'Welcome home, my child.'
Sgt. Elor Azaria, an IDF soldier charged with manslaughter after shooting dead a neutralized Palestinian terrorist in Hebron, was released from detention on Friday morning.
After 29 days under arrest, Azaria was allowed by the military court to celebrate the Seder, a ritual feast held on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover, at home with his family in Ramla.
Azaria's father and another relative arrived at the Nachshonim base near Rosh HaAyin to drive him home, where right wing activists were waiting for him with support signs.
Azaria's arrival home was accompanied by celebrations, with right wing activists carrying him on their shoulders.
After giving her son a long hug, his mother told him: "Welcome, my child. Welcome home."
His father had a message to the Israeli public, "Thank you to the people of Israel and to the court for allowing him to be at home for Passover. We want to be a normal family."
Azaria himself avoided making any comments to reporters who arrived at the family home.
The indictment filed against Azaria on Monday claims that "the soldier took several steps towards the terrorists, aimed at his head and fired a single bullet from short range. This the defendant did in contravention of the rules of engagement and without operational justification." He was also charged with inappropriate behavior.
However, in the same hearing, the military judge criticized the prosecution, and warned that the evidence was weak.
"The level of criminality of the defendant might be lower than what the prosecution attributes him," Judge Lt.-Col. Ronen Shor said.
Azaria enlisted in the army a year and eight months ago and became a combat soldier in the Shimshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade. After successfully finishing a combat medics course, he began serving as a medic in his company.
Azaria has no criminal or disciplinary record. On the contrary, before the incident, he recently received a certificate of excellence for his service.
His father served in the police for 30 years. In recent years, the father has been doing volunteer work, helping soldiers to expunge their criminal record.
Investigators did not find any indication that Azaria supports or has been involved with radical right wing groups. However, in posts he made on Facebook before beginning his army service, he expressed support for the revenge of the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers.
On March 24, two terrorists armed with knives stabbed a soldier, moderately wounding him, at an IDF post near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron.
The two were shot and neutralized by soldiers from the IDF's Kfir Brigade, and the wounded soldier's condition was later downgraded to light.
A video filmed several minutes later by B'Tselem volunteer Emad abu-Shamsiyah shows one of the terrorists, Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, lying on the ground motionless, when Azaria, who arrived at the scene of the attack several minutes later, aims his weapon at him and shoots him in the head.
An autopsy performed on a-Sharif found he was alive when he was shot, and died as a result of the shot to the head - not from the wounds he sustained before.
Hebron soldier welcomed home to celebrations
Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot dead a neutralized terrorist in Hebron, allowed home for Seder dinner; right-wing activists waited outside his home with support signs as his mother told him: 'Welcome home, my child.'
Sgt. Elor Azaria, an IDF soldier charged with manslaughter after shooting dead a neutralized Palestinian terrorist in Hebron, was released from detention on Friday morning.
After 29 days under arrest, Azaria was allowed by the military court to celebrate the Seder, a ritual feast held on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Passover, at home with his family in Ramla.
Azaria's father and another relative arrived at the Nachshonim base near Rosh HaAyin to drive him home, where right wing activists were waiting for him with support signs.
Azaria's arrival home was accompanied by celebrations, with right wing activists carrying him on their shoulders.
After giving her son a long hug, his mother told him: "Welcome, my child. Welcome home."
His father had a message to the Israeli public, "Thank you to the people of Israel and to the court for allowing him to be at home for Passover. We want to be a normal family."
Azaria himself avoided making any comments to reporters who arrived at the family home.
The indictment filed against Azaria on Monday claims that "the soldier took several steps towards the terrorists, aimed at his head and fired a single bullet from short range. This the defendant did in contravention of the rules of engagement and without operational justification." He was also charged with inappropriate behavior.
However, in the same hearing, the military judge criticized the prosecution, and warned that the evidence was weak.
"The level of criminality of the defendant might be lower than what the prosecution attributes him," Judge Lt.-Col. Ronen Shor said.
Azaria enlisted in the army a year and eight months ago and became a combat soldier in the Shimshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade. After successfully finishing a combat medics course, he began serving as a medic in his company.
Azaria has no criminal or disciplinary record. On the contrary, before the incident, he recently received a certificate of excellence for his service.
His father served in the police for 30 years. In recent years, the father has been doing volunteer work, helping soldiers to expunge their criminal record.
Investigators did not find any indication that Azaria supports or has been involved with radical right wing groups. However, in posts he made on Facebook before beginning his army service, he expressed support for the revenge of the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers.
On March 24, two terrorists armed with knives stabbed a soldier, moderately wounding him, at an IDF post near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron.
The two were shot and neutralized by soldiers from the IDF's Kfir Brigade, and the wounded soldier's condition was later downgraded to light.
A video filmed several minutes later by B'Tselem volunteer Emad abu-Shamsiyah shows one of the terrorists, Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, lying on the ground motionless, when Azaria, who arrived at the scene of the attack several minutes later, aims his weapon at him and shoots him in the head.
An autopsy performed on a-Sharif found he was alive when he was shot, and died as a result of the shot to the head - not from the wounds he sustained before.
21 apr 2016
The Palestinian Ministry of Information and Ma'an News Agency honored activist Emad Abu Shamsiya Tuesday in appreciation of his role in exposing Israeli crimes by documenting the high-profile killing of a Palestinian by an Israeli soldier.
Abu Shamsiya captured video footage of an Israeli soldier shooting and killing the gravely-injured Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after he allegedly stabbed another Israeli soldier. The footage was released by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem and called international attention to the incident, which was labeled by the UN as an “extrajudicial execution.”
He is also one of the founders of the Palestinian group Human Rights Defenders, who document human rights violations by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Abu Shamsiya was the target of harassment and verbal abuse by Israeli settlers who threatened him at his home following the release of the footage he captured.
Deputy Minister Mahmoud Khalifeh and Ma'an’s Editor in Chief Nasser Laham applauded the resistance of the people in Hebron’s Old City -- especially in the Tel Rumeida area -- for pushing back against Israeli human rights violations and documenting their crimes.
Tel Rumeida -- the site of al-Sharif's killing and where Shamsiya’s house is located -- has long been a flashpoint for tensions between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and soldiers, and is located near an illegal Israeli settlement.
Abu Shamsiya thanked the Ministry of Information and Ma'an News Agency, dedicating his award to all peace activists and defenders of human rights.
Abu Shamsiya captured video footage of an Israeli soldier shooting and killing the gravely-injured Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron after he allegedly stabbed another Israeli soldier. The footage was released by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem and called international attention to the incident, which was labeled by the UN as an “extrajudicial execution.”
He is also one of the founders of the Palestinian group Human Rights Defenders, who document human rights violations by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Abu Shamsiya was the target of harassment and verbal abuse by Israeli settlers who threatened him at his home following the release of the footage he captured.
Deputy Minister Mahmoud Khalifeh and Ma'an’s Editor in Chief Nasser Laham applauded the resistance of the people in Hebron’s Old City -- especially in the Tel Rumeida area -- for pushing back against Israeli human rights violations and documenting their crimes.
Tel Rumeida -- the site of al-Sharif's killing and where Shamsiya’s house is located -- has long been a flashpoint for tensions between Palestinians and Israeli settlers and soldiers, and is located near an illegal Israeli settlement.
Abu Shamsiya thanked the Ministry of Information and Ma'an News Agency, dedicating his award to all peace activists and defenders of human rights.
In the latest clash between the two party leaders, the prime minister and education minister reportedly sparred over agenda items, with the PM declaring, 'You aren't running things here.'
An unprecedented confrontation broke out in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning between the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chairman of Bayit Yehudi, Education Minister Naftali Bennett.
The Bayit Yehudi leader became angry at the fact that the issue of the IDF's deployment in Area A was not on the meeting's agenda, after he learned that the defense establishment is seeking to minimize or completely stop IDF presence in Palestinian cities in the West Bank in an effort to calm tensions on the ground.
He asked Netanyahu for clarification on this, and he claimed that it had been agreed that the issue would be discussed.
According to sources present at the meeting, the prime minister chided Bennett, telling him "Calm down, or I'll fire you."
Bennett retorted, "You can do whatever you want, I'll keep fighting for my security positions."
On Sunday, the prime minister had promised Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Bennett and the military secretary that the meeting would include a discussion of the A Area subject. "Keep your promises," Bennett yelled at Netanyahu, who retorted, "You aren't running things here."
The other ministers tried to calm the Bayit Yehudi leader down, with Likud Minister Ze'ev Elkin telling him, "Naftali, come on, this is inappropriate. You were already told there will be a briefing by the IDF chief." Minister Aryeh Deri accused Bennett, "What you're saying now, is actually you not giving backing to the chief of staff and the IDF."
A new low
The clash signaled a new low in the tensed relations between the prime minister and the education minister. The two have clashed several times before, but senior political officials said this latest exchange was "unprecedented" and that the argument itself was very heated and personal.
"We've already seen rounds of fighting between Bennett and Netanyahu, but what happened at the cabinet (on Wednesday) is just a new low. We've yet to see such a clash. The tone and the content of what was said were unusually harsh. Netanyahu was yelling and raging," said the senior official.
Another political source added, "Netanyahu didn't like the style and content of what Bennett said and answered harshly - 'you are not running anything.' Despite that, he eventually placated him and raised the agenda item in question for discussion, and later a statement on the topic came out. After Netanyahu yelled, got up, and wanted to cut the meeting short, he regained his composure because everyone, Netanyahu included, understand the meaning of firing Bennett. That is probably why they both calmed down and let the discussion continue."
The statement issued after the meeting noted: "Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot made it clear that the IDF maintains – and will maintain – the possibility of entering Area A, and anywhere necessary, according to operational needs, and that there is no other agreement with the Palestinians."
A third official claimed that "it was clear Bennett was seeking this confrontation. He was speaking very bluntly."
In response to reports of the confrontation, Bennett's office stated, "We will not address the details of closed security debates. Cabinet leaks are a serious issue that endanger national security. I expect the prime minister to handle this."
The Prime Minister's Office replied, "We do not address cabinet discussions."
While the two's respective offices declined comment, many in the political system were quick to respond, with Bennett's party colleagues backing him.
"It is elementary for a minister and senior partner in the government to demand information and answers on matters of security, as terror rages in the streets," said MK Shuli Mualem. "If Netanyahu wants to break up the government over this, why not? Let him go and explain once again that Arabs are going to the polls in droves. Except that this time, the public will understand who cares about Israel's security more."
At mentioned, this isn't Bennett and Netanyahu's first clash. During a cabinet meeting three weeks ago, the Bayit Yehudi leader attacked those who condemned Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot dead an already-neutralized terrorist in Hebron, hinting that the prime minister was among them.
Netanyahu reacted with anger, saying: "I led soldiers into battle, don't you preach me about morality."
But this did not appease Bennett, who responded: "Backing (the soldier) is done with actions, not with words. Why are you judging him before investigating?"
The two also went head-to-head in a cabinet meeting in January. After Foreign Ministry officials announced that they were boycotting the Bayit Yehudi leader, Netanyahu backed them up, leading Bennett to claim: "You're afraid to manage the people at the Foreign Ministry. This is a question of governance - whether the employees manage you, or you them."
An unprecedented confrontation broke out in a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning between the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chairman of Bayit Yehudi, Education Minister Naftali Bennett.
The Bayit Yehudi leader became angry at the fact that the issue of the IDF's deployment in Area A was not on the meeting's agenda, after he learned that the defense establishment is seeking to minimize or completely stop IDF presence in Palestinian cities in the West Bank in an effort to calm tensions on the ground.
He asked Netanyahu for clarification on this, and he claimed that it had been agreed that the issue would be discussed.
According to sources present at the meeting, the prime minister chided Bennett, telling him "Calm down, or I'll fire you."
Bennett retorted, "You can do whatever you want, I'll keep fighting for my security positions."
On Sunday, the prime minister had promised Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Bennett and the military secretary that the meeting would include a discussion of the A Area subject. "Keep your promises," Bennett yelled at Netanyahu, who retorted, "You aren't running things here."
The other ministers tried to calm the Bayit Yehudi leader down, with Likud Minister Ze'ev Elkin telling him, "Naftali, come on, this is inappropriate. You were already told there will be a briefing by the IDF chief." Minister Aryeh Deri accused Bennett, "What you're saying now, is actually you not giving backing to the chief of staff and the IDF."
A new low
The clash signaled a new low in the tensed relations between the prime minister and the education minister. The two have clashed several times before, but senior political officials said this latest exchange was "unprecedented" and that the argument itself was very heated and personal.
"We've already seen rounds of fighting between Bennett and Netanyahu, but what happened at the cabinet (on Wednesday) is just a new low. We've yet to see such a clash. The tone and the content of what was said were unusually harsh. Netanyahu was yelling and raging," said the senior official.
Another political source added, "Netanyahu didn't like the style and content of what Bennett said and answered harshly - 'you are not running anything.' Despite that, he eventually placated him and raised the agenda item in question for discussion, and later a statement on the topic came out. After Netanyahu yelled, got up, and wanted to cut the meeting short, he regained his composure because everyone, Netanyahu included, understand the meaning of firing Bennett. That is probably why they both calmed down and let the discussion continue."
The statement issued after the meeting noted: "Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot made it clear that the IDF maintains – and will maintain – the possibility of entering Area A, and anywhere necessary, according to operational needs, and that there is no other agreement with the Palestinians."
A third official claimed that "it was clear Bennett was seeking this confrontation. He was speaking very bluntly."
In response to reports of the confrontation, Bennett's office stated, "We will not address the details of closed security debates. Cabinet leaks are a serious issue that endanger national security. I expect the prime minister to handle this."
The Prime Minister's Office replied, "We do not address cabinet discussions."
While the two's respective offices declined comment, many in the political system were quick to respond, with Bennett's party colleagues backing him.
"It is elementary for a minister and senior partner in the government to demand information and answers on matters of security, as terror rages in the streets," said MK Shuli Mualem. "If Netanyahu wants to break up the government over this, why not? Let him go and explain once again that Arabs are going to the polls in droves. Except that this time, the public will understand who cares about Israel's security more."
At mentioned, this isn't Bennett and Netanyahu's first clash. During a cabinet meeting three weeks ago, the Bayit Yehudi leader attacked those who condemned Sgt. Elor Azaria, who shot dead an already-neutralized terrorist in Hebron, hinting that the prime minister was among them.
Netanyahu reacted with anger, saying: "I led soldiers into battle, don't you preach me about morality."
But this did not appease Bennett, who responded: "Backing (the soldier) is done with actions, not with words. Why are you judging him before investigating?"
The two also went head-to-head in a cabinet meeting in January. After Foreign Ministry officials announced that they were boycotting the Bayit Yehudi leader, Netanyahu backed them up, leading Bennett to claim: "You're afraid to manage the people at the Foreign Ministry. This is a question of governance - whether the employees manage you, or you them."
19 apr 2016
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Charlie and Oshra Azaria (on the right) and daughter Etti (in red on the left) at the rally
Protesters wave signs of support and flags, calling 'Elor the hero' and 'Terrorists shouldn't be neutralized - they should be killed,' as Sgt. Elor Azaria's parents and sister address the crowd. About 2,000 Israelis rallied in central Tel Aviv on Tuesday night in support of soldier Elor Azaria, who shot dead a neutralized terrorist in Hebron. The protesters waved support signs and flags, some wrapping the Israeli flag around themselves. Many called for Azaria's release, while some made racist jeers. |
Among the slogans chanted by rally attendees were "Elor the Hero," "Terrorists shouldn't be neutralized - they should be killed," and "Kill or be killed."
Azaria's parents, Charlie and Oshra, and his sister Etti, spoke at the rally, as well as journalist Sharon Gal, who was one of the rally's organizers.
Family members of terror victims also spoke at the rally, including Dvora Gonen, who lost her son Danny Gonen, and Ruit Hasano, who lost her husband Avraham Asher Hasano.
Support rally for Hebron soldier to be held in Tel Aviv
Sgt. Elor Azaria's parents and sister to speak at rally, as well as journalist Sharon Gal and relatives of terror victims; singers Moshik Afia, Maor Edri and Amos Elgali, and rapper Subliminal also set to perform.
A rally in support of soldier Elor Azaria, who shot dead a neutralized terrorist in Hebron, will be held in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Tuesday evening.
Sergeant Azaria, 20, from Ramla, was charged on Monday with manslaughter for killing Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, who was lying on the ground seriously wounded after he and another Palestinian attacked IDF soldiers.
Azaria's parents, Charlie and Oshra, and his sister Etti, will speak at the rally, as well as journalist Sharon Gal, who is one of the rally's organizers.
Family members of terror victims will also speak at the rally, including Dvora Gonen, who lost her son Danny Gonen, and Ruit Hasano, who lost her husband Avraham Asher Hasano.
Several musicians are scheduled to appear at the rally and perform, including singers Moshik Afia, Maor Edri and Amos Elgali, and rapper Subliminal.
Singers Eyal Golan and David Doar, who initially agreed to perform, withdrew at the last minute in the wake of public outrage.
"I would have liked to come to perform at the assembly in the name of art, and personally as a performer and as a human being. However, I'm sorry to say that there are those who will use this as a political spectacle," Golan said.
Doar also decided against performing at the square, saying "I wanted to show my sympathy to the family of the soldier – not to say anything against the IDF or the IDF Chief of Staff, God forbid."
He then went on to add that he didn't know that "this was going to be an event with a political orientation."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the issue on Tuesday, saying that "As the father of a soldier and as prime minister, I would like to reiterate: The IDF backs its soldiers. I am convinced that an examination of the event in Hebron will be done responsibly and sagaciously."
The prime minister also expressed his trust in the courts, saying "in my familiarity with the military justice system, I am convinced that the court will consider all circumstances regarding the incident. Our soldiers are not murderers. They act against murderers and I hope that a way will be found to balance between the action and the overall context of the event. In the meantime I suggest that everyone lower the flames."
Due to the event, Ibn Gvirol Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Shaul HaMelech and Arlozorov streets. Frishman Street will be closed to traffic between Masaryc Square and Ibn Gvirol Street, David HaMelech Blvd will be closed to traffic between Weitzman Street and Ibn Gvirol Street, Gordon Street will be closed to traffic between Shlomo Hamelech Street to Malchei Israel, and the eastern side of Malchei Yisrael itself will be closed to traffic between Sderot Chen to Ben Gurion Boulevard.
Israeli court: Abdul-Fattah al-Sharif was involuntarily killed by Azaria
The soldier who killed last March a wounded Palestinian called Abdul-Fattah al-Sharif escaped severe punishment after an Israeli military court on Monday charged him with "involuntary manslaughter" and improper conduct.
In his indictment, the military prosecutor had said soldier Elor Azaria killed Sharif with no premeditation, but he acted in contrast to the rules of opening fire and without any operational justification.
At the time of the incident, the Israeli occupation army said two Palestinians had been shot and killed after carrying out a stabbing attack that wounded an Israeli soldier last March in al-Khalil.
But a video released by the human rights group B'Tselem showed one of the attackers still alive after the initial shooting. The video, taken by a B'Tselem volunteer, shows Azaria calmly raising his rifle, cocking the weapon and firing at the head of the wounded Palestinian.
An autopsy determined the shot to the head was the cause of death.
Azaria's parents, Charlie and Oshra, and his sister Etti, spoke at the rally, as well as journalist Sharon Gal, who was one of the rally's organizers.
Family members of terror victims also spoke at the rally, including Dvora Gonen, who lost her son Danny Gonen, and Ruit Hasano, who lost her husband Avraham Asher Hasano.
Support rally for Hebron soldier to be held in Tel Aviv
Sgt. Elor Azaria's parents and sister to speak at rally, as well as journalist Sharon Gal and relatives of terror victims; singers Moshik Afia, Maor Edri and Amos Elgali, and rapper Subliminal also set to perform.
A rally in support of soldier Elor Azaria, who shot dead a neutralized terrorist in Hebron, will be held in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square on Tuesday evening.
Sergeant Azaria, 20, from Ramla, was charged on Monday with manslaughter for killing Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, who was lying on the ground seriously wounded after he and another Palestinian attacked IDF soldiers.
Azaria's parents, Charlie and Oshra, and his sister Etti, will speak at the rally, as well as journalist Sharon Gal, who is one of the rally's organizers.
Family members of terror victims will also speak at the rally, including Dvora Gonen, who lost her son Danny Gonen, and Ruit Hasano, who lost her husband Avraham Asher Hasano.
Several musicians are scheduled to appear at the rally and perform, including singers Moshik Afia, Maor Edri and Amos Elgali, and rapper Subliminal.
Singers Eyal Golan and David Doar, who initially agreed to perform, withdrew at the last minute in the wake of public outrage.
"I would have liked to come to perform at the assembly in the name of art, and personally as a performer and as a human being. However, I'm sorry to say that there are those who will use this as a political spectacle," Golan said.
Doar also decided against performing at the square, saying "I wanted to show my sympathy to the family of the soldier – not to say anything against the IDF or the IDF Chief of Staff, God forbid."
He then went on to add that he didn't know that "this was going to be an event with a political orientation."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the issue on Tuesday, saying that "As the father of a soldier and as prime minister, I would like to reiterate: The IDF backs its soldiers. I am convinced that an examination of the event in Hebron will be done responsibly and sagaciously."
The prime minister also expressed his trust in the courts, saying "in my familiarity with the military justice system, I am convinced that the court will consider all circumstances regarding the incident. Our soldiers are not murderers. They act against murderers and I hope that a way will be found to balance between the action and the overall context of the event. In the meantime I suggest that everyone lower the flames."
Due to the event, Ibn Gvirol Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Shaul HaMelech and Arlozorov streets. Frishman Street will be closed to traffic between Masaryc Square and Ibn Gvirol Street, David HaMelech Blvd will be closed to traffic between Weitzman Street and Ibn Gvirol Street, Gordon Street will be closed to traffic between Shlomo Hamelech Street to Malchei Israel, and the eastern side of Malchei Yisrael itself will be closed to traffic between Sderot Chen to Ben Gurion Boulevard.
Israeli court: Abdul-Fattah al-Sharif was involuntarily killed by Azaria
The soldier who killed last March a wounded Palestinian called Abdul-Fattah al-Sharif escaped severe punishment after an Israeli military court on Monday charged him with "involuntary manslaughter" and improper conduct.
In his indictment, the military prosecutor had said soldier Elor Azaria killed Sharif with no premeditation, but he acted in contrast to the rules of opening fire and without any operational justification.
At the time of the incident, the Israeli occupation army said two Palestinians had been shot and killed after carrying out a stabbing attack that wounded an Israeli soldier last March in al-Khalil.
But a video released by the human rights group B'Tselem showed one of the attackers still alive after the initial shooting. The video, taken by a B'Tselem volunteer, shows Azaria calmly raising his rifle, cocking the weapon and firing at the head of the wounded Palestinian.
An autopsy determined the shot to the head was the cause of death.
18 apr 2016
Sergeant Elor Azaria, who shot neutralized terrorist, indicted after he was found to be acting 'in contradiction with the rules of engagement and without operational justification.'
Sergeant Elor Azaria, 20, from Ramla, the Kfir Brigade soldier who shot dead an already-neutralized terrorist in Hebron, was charged with manslaughter at the Jaffa Military Court on Monday. He was also charged with inappropriate behavior.
The Jaffa Military Court accepted the defense's request to lift the gag order on the soldier's name.
While determining that Azaria will stay in detention at the Nachshonim military base near Rosh HaAyin until the conclusion of legal proceedures against him, Judge Lt.-Col. Ronen Shor accepted another request by the defense to allow Azaria to spend Seder night with his family at home.
"The soldier took several steps towards the terrorists, aimed at his head and fired a single bullet from short range. This the defendant did in contravention of the rules of engagement and without operational justification," the indictment said.
The judge criticized both the prosecution and the defense, and warned that the evidence in the case was weak. "The level of criminality of the defendant might be lower than what the prosecution attributes him," Judge Shor said.
Prosecutor Lt.-Col. Adoram Rigler said at the court hearing that "the terrorist who was shot by the soldier did not pose a risk to him or to anyone around him. There is a strong evidentiary basis to prove the indictment."
The defense, meanwhile, claimed that “The testimony and evidence ruled out a vengeful motive for the shooting. The pathologist said she cannot rule out that the terrorist might have moved his hands.”
Attorney Ilan Katz, representing the soldier, further stated, "Company Commander NT testified to the Military Police, saying, 'I stood there for 7-8 minutes before the shooting, and noticed about 20 seconds before the shooting that the terrorist was moving.' Which explains the carelessness of the other people around."
Attorney Ben Malka, who also represents the soldier, said that "the decision mentions the fact there are many versions in support of the soldier. The prosecution's evidence is weak and this led, to begin with, to detention at the base. This is a manslaughter case and might turn out to be less. The indictment is not the end of it, just the opening note, and the truth will come out."
Azaria enlisted in the army a year and eight months ago and became a combat soldier in the Shimshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade. After successfully finishing a combat medics course, he began serving as a medic in his company.
Azaria has no criminal or disciplinary record. On the contrary, before the incident, he recently received a certificate of excellence for his service.
His father served in the police for 30 years. In recent years, the father has been doing volunteer work, helping soldiers to expunge their criminal record.
Investigators did not find any indication that Azaria supports or has been involved with radical right wing groups. However, in posts he made on Facebook before beginning his army service, he expressed support for the revenge of the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers.
On March 24, two terrorists armed with knives stabbed a soldier, moderately wounding him, at an IDF post near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron.
The two were shot and neutralized by soldiers from the IDF's Kfir Brigade, and the wounded soldier's condition was later downgraded to light.
A video filmed several minutes later by B'Tselem volunteer Emad abu-Shamsiyah shows one of the terrorists, Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, lying on the ground motionless, when Azaria, who arrived at the scene of the attack several minutes later, aims his weapon at him and shoots him in the head.
An autopsy performed on a-Sharif found he was alive when he was shot, and died as a result of the shot to the head - not from the wounds he sustained before.
Sergeant Elor Azaria, 20, from Ramla, the Kfir Brigade soldier who shot dead an already-neutralized terrorist in Hebron, was charged with manslaughter at the Jaffa Military Court on Monday. He was also charged with inappropriate behavior.
The Jaffa Military Court accepted the defense's request to lift the gag order on the soldier's name.
While determining that Azaria will stay in detention at the Nachshonim military base near Rosh HaAyin until the conclusion of legal proceedures against him, Judge Lt.-Col. Ronen Shor accepted another request by the defense to allow Azaria to spend Seder night with his family at home.
"The soldier took several steps towards the terrorists, aimed at his head and fired a single bullet from short range. This the defendant did in contravention of the rules of engagement and without operational justification," the indictment said.
The judge criticized both the prosecution and the defense, and warned that the evidence in the case was weak. "The level of criminality of the defendant might be lower than what the prosecution attributes him," Judge Shor said.
Prosecutor Lt.-Col. Adoram Rigler said at the court hearing that "the terrorist who was shot by the soldier did not pose a risk to him or to anyone around him. There is a strong evidentiary basis to prove the indictment."
The defense, meanwhile, claimed that “The testimony and evidence ruled out a vengeful motive for the shooting. The pathologist said she cannot rule out that the terrorist might have moved his hands.”
Attorney Ilan Katz, representing the soldier, further stated, "Company Commander NT testified to the Military Police, saying, 'I stood there for 7-8 minutes before the shooting, and noticed about 20 seconds before the shooting that the terrorist was moving.' Which explains the carelessness of the other people around."
Attorney Ben Malka, who also represents the soldier, said that "the decision mentions the fact there are many versions in support of the soldier. The prosecution's evidence is weak and this led, to begin with, to detention at the base. This is a manslaughter case and might turn out to be less. The indictment is not the end of it, just the opening note, and the truth will come out."
Azaria enlisted in the army a year and eight months ago and became a combat soldier in the Shimshon Battalion of the Kfir Brigade. After successfully finishing a combat medics course, he began serving as a medic in his company.
Azaria has no criminal or disciplinary record. On the contrary, before the incident, he recently received a certificate of excellence for his service.
His father served in the police for 30 years. In recent years, the father has been doing volunteer work, helping soldiers to expunge their criminal record.
Investigators did not find any indication that Azaria supports or has been involved with radical right wing groups. However, in posts he made on Facebook before beginning his army service, he expressed support for the revenge of the kidnapping and murder of the three Israeli teenagers.
On March 24, two terrorists armed with knives stabbed a soldier, moderately wounding him, at an IDF post near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron.
The two were shot and neutralized by soldiers from the IDF's Kfir Brigade, and the wounded soldier's condition was later downgraded to light.
A video filmed several minutes later by B'Tselem volunteer Emad abu-Shamsiyah shows one of the terrorists, Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, lying on the ground motionless, when Azaria, who arrived at the scene of the attack several minutes later, aims his weapon at him and shoots him in the head.
An autopsy performed on a-Sharif found he was alive when he was shot, and died as a result of the shot to the head - not from the wounds he sustained before.
