19 mar 2018

Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a seriously wounded Palestinian terrorist, asked the court to cut his sentence by half and release him immediately; he will instead complete two-thirds of his term before being released in less than two months.
The military parole board decided Monday to cut a third of the sentence given to former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a seriously wounded Palestinian terrorist in Hebron.
Azaria, who has served seven of his 14-month sentence, is expected to be released on May 10.
Azaria's sister Etti slammed the decision, saying "There is no reason to be happy, friends, they refused had and tried to pretty it up with the third!!! The third has nothing to do with them!!!!!! Shame, shame, shame that my family has to hear about it through the media!!!"
His cousin Victor was also unhappy with the decision. "The child needs to continue sitting in prison for another month and a half, if not more. The prosecutors are leftists. No trust in anyone in the government. We won't forgive and won't forget this," he wrote on Facebook.
The military court heard Azaria's request for early release last week. "I shot a murderous terrorist, release me today," he told the court.
"The sooner this affair ends, the better it will be for everyone," said Yoram Sheftel, Azaria's attorney. "Azaria has been in a constant and ceaseless nightmare for two years."
The Military Advocate General's Office, which was opposed to cutting Azaria's sentence by half, said it would not object to cutting it by a third.
"Azaria was convicted of a serious offense of manslaughter. The offense was carried out with intention and not out of negligence or
mistake, according to the determination of the court," said prosecutor, Col. Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas. "Throughout the proceedings, the prisoner has not taken responsibility for his actions, nor did he express regret. We haven't heard that today either; and this morning we even heard a certain degree of rejection of the appeal court's ruling. The court determined Azaria's actions could damage the strength of the IDF."
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot reduced Azaria's sentence by four months in September. “Your conduct was unacceptable and was contrary to the army's command and values of the IDF,” Eisenkot wrote at the time, qualifying the sympathy behind his decision.
The IDF chief further rebuked Azaria for “the fact that you didn’t take responsibility for your actions and that you never expressed regret.”
Last November, President Reuven Rivlin rejected Azaria's pardon request. At the time, Rivlin noted that "taking all considerations into account ... an additional lightening of your sentence would harm the resilience to the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel. The values of the Israel Defense Forces, and among them the Purity of Arms, are the core foundation of the strength of the Israel Defense Forces, and have always stood strong for us in the just struggle for our right to a safe, national home, and in the building a robust society."
Sentence reduced for Israeli soldier who killed wounded Palestinian
An Israeli occupation soldier, Elor Azaria, convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead an incapacitated Palestinian youth has had his prison sentence reduced by a parole board. It is the second time his sentence has been shortened
Elor Azaria will now be released on May 10. He was initially given an 18 month sentence. In September, Gadi Eizenkot, the IOF chief of staff, announced a four month reduction to the sentence. The parole board has now announced a further five month reduction, according to Quds Press.
Azaria was found guilty last year, after video footage was published showing him shooting Abdul Fatah al-Sharif in al-Khalil in March 2016.
Al-Sharif had carried out a stabbing attack on an Israeli soldier and had been shot and wounded when Azaria shot him in the head.
The family of martyr Sharif condemned the sentence reduction which was made in full disregard for the fact that the brutal crime was documented in a footage.
The military parole board decided Monday to cut a third of the sentence given to former soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a seriously wounded Palestinian terrorist in Hebron.
Azaria, who has served seven of his 14-month sentence, is expected to be released on May 10.
Azaria's sister Etti slammed the decision, saying "There is no reason to be happy, friends, they refused had and tried to pretty it up with the third!!! The third has nothing to do with them!!!!!! Shame, shame, shame that my family has to hear about it through the media!!!"
His cousin Victor was also unhappy with the decision. "The child needs to continue sitting in prison for another month and a half, if not more. The prosecutors are leftists. No trust in anyone in the government. We won't forgive and won't forget this," he wrote on Facebook.
The military court heard Azaria's request for early release last week. "I shot a murderous terrorist, release me today," he told the court.
"The sooner this affair ends, the better it will be for everyone," said Yoram Sheftel, Azaria's attorney. "Azaria has been in a constant and ceaseless nightmare for two years."
The Military Advocate General's Office, which was opposed to cutting Azaria's sentence by half, said it would not object to cutting it by a third.
"Azaria was convicted of a serious offense of manslaughter. The offense was carried out with intention and not out of negligence or
mistake, according to the determination of the court," said prosecutor, Col. Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas. "Throughout the proceedings, the prisoner has not taken responsibility for his actions, nor did he express regret. We haven't heard that today either; and this morning we even heard a certain degree of rejection of the appeal court's ruling. The court determined Azaria's actions could damage the strength of the IDF."
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot reduced Azaria's sentence by four months in September. “Your conduct was unacceptable and was contrary to the army's command and values of the IDF,” Eisenkot wrote at the time, qualifying the sympathy behind his decision.
The IDF chief further rebuked Azaria for “the fact that you didn’t take responsibility for your actions and that you never expressed regret.”
Last November, President Reuven Rivlin rejected Azaria's pardon request. At the time, Rivlin noted that "taking all considerations into account ... an additional lightening of your sentence would harm the resilience to the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel. The values of the Israel Defense Forces, and among them the Purity of Arms, are the core foundation of the strength of the Israel Defense Forces, and have always stood strong for us in the just struggle for our right to a safe, national home, and in the building a robust society."
Sentence reduced for Israeli soldier who killed wounded Palestinian
An Israeli occupation soldier, Elor Azaria, convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead an incapacitated Palestinian youth has had his prison sentence reduced by a parole board. It is the second time his sentence has been shortened
Elor Azaria will now be released on May 10. He was initially given an 18 month sentence. In September, Gadi Eizenkot, the IOF chief of staff, announced a four month reduction to the sentence. The parole board has now announced a further five month reduction, according to Quds Press.
Azaria was found guilty last year, after video footage was published showing him shooting Abdul Fatah al-Sharif in al-Khalil in March 2016.
Al-Sharif had carried out a stabbing attack on an Israeli soldier and had been shot and wounded when Azaria shot him in the head.
The family of martyr Sharif condemned the sentence reduction which was made in full disregard for the fact that the brutal crime was documented in a footage.
14 mar 2018

Lawyer of the soldier convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a seriously wounded terrorist argues Azaria's 'impeccable behavior' in prison, the fact he is favored by prison authorities, and the fact the IDF chief mitigated his sentence, should serve as reasons to grant him early release.
The military court at the Kirya IDF headquarters discussed Wednesday morning a request by former soldier Elor Azaria for early release. A decision will be made in the coming days.
Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a seriously wounded Palestinian in Hebron, has served seven months of his 14-month sentence. "I shot a murderous terrorist, release me today," he told the court.
The Military Advocate General's Office opposes cutting Azaria's sentence by half, but its representatives said they will not oppose to cutting it by a third, which means he would be released on May 10.
"The sooner this affair ends, the better it will be for everyone," said Yoram Sheftel, Azaria's attorney. "Azaria has been in a constant and ceaseless nightmare for two years."
"The investigation began in an outrageous manner as a murder investigation with the initial intention of imprisoning him for the rest of his life," Sheftel claimed, further asserting that "morale in the army will increase the sooner he is released."
Azaria, he said, "has behaved impeccably throughout his imprisonment. After a month, he was already included in the vacations rotation and got a 96-hour furlough for Rosh HaShana. Since then, he has gone on furlough every month. This is considered unusual and it is because of his impeccable behavior and the fact the prison authorities have done everything they could within the restrictions of the law to make it easier on him, because they too believe he doesn't belong there. With this, they reflect the great majority of the people of Zion."
"Azaria believes he has been seriously wronged, and the video he released before entering prison was watched by two million people. Only the prime minister has more views. And even then, (Azaria) nobly called on the youth to enlist in the army," Sheftel went on to say.
According to Sheftel, "even the IDF chief believes the punishment was too grave. We've never seen a situation in which, while the verdict was being read out, a statement by the IDF chief was released in which he called on Azaria to ask for a mitigation of his punishment with a hint thick as an elephant's skin that the request will be accepted—and so it was. Eventually, the IDF chief did mitigate 22 percent of the punishment. There has never been a case in which the parole board rejected a request for an early release from a soldier whose punishment was mitigated by the IDF chief."
Azaria addressed the court himself as well, repeating the same claims he made during his trial. "I shot a murderous terrorist because in the field, in real time, I was sure he had a bomb on him and felt in immediate danger. If I had known otherwise in the field, in real time, I would've acted differently," he said.
"I contributed a lot to the state's security in my army service, from the long and exhausting training to the arrests and many operations, in bad conditions and difficult situations that you encounter when walking inside a village and the fear is climbing up your body. You could be dead at any second," Azaria continued.
He noted that "I was wounded in my service from a block thrown at me, and I continued serving and contributing. I was in difficult situations that are far from the air-conditioned rooms. I ask you, return me home and let me mend the fractures. There's a bleeding wound in my family and in the entire people of Israel that must be allowed to heal. Release me today. I'm asking you."
The prosecutor, Col. Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas, argued that "cutting the punishment by half is done only in unusual circumstances to create congruence with the civilian equivalent, according to which a prisoner turns to the parole board after serving two-thirds of his punishment. In the great majority of case, cutting a sentence by half has so far only been done for medical reasons."
"Our position is to leave the matter of Azaria's early release to the consideration of the parole board after he serves two-thirds of his sentence," she added.
"In this case, there are no considerations to cutting the punishment by half, but there are to rejecting the current request," Col. Zagagi-Pinhas argued.
"Azaria was convicted of a serious offense of manslaughter. The offense was carried out with intention and not out of negligence or mistake, according to the determination of the court. Throughout the proceedings, the prisoner has not taken responsibility for his actions, nor did he express regret. We haven't heard that today either; and this morning we even heard a certain degree of rejection of the appeal court's ruling. The court determined Azaria's actions could damage the strength of the IDF."
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot reduced Azaria's sentence by four months in September. “Your conduct was unacceptable and was contrary to the army's command and values of the IDF,” Eisenkot wrote at the time, qualifying the sympathy behind his decision.
The IDF chief further rebuked Azaria for “the fact that you didn’t take responsibility for your actions and that you never expressed regret.”
Last November, President Reuven Rivlin rejected Azaria's pardon request. At the time, Rivlin noted that "taking all considerations into account ... an additional lightening of your sentence would harm the resilience to the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel. The values of the Israel Defense Forces, and among them the Purity of Arms, are the core foundation of the strength of the Israel Defense Forces, and have always stood strong for us in the just struggle for our right to a safe, national home, and in the building a robust society."
The military court at the Kirya IDF headquarters discussed Wednesday morning a request by former soldier Elor Azaria for early release. A decision will be made in the coming days.
Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting dead a seriously wounded Palestinian in Hebron, has served seven months of his 14-month sentence. "I shot a murderous terrorist, release me today," he told the court.
The Military Advocate General's Office opposes cutting Azaria's sentence by half, but its representatives said they will not oppose to cutting it by a third, which means he would be released on May 10.
"The sooner this affair ends, the better it will be for everyone," said Yoram Sheftel, Azaria's attorney. "Azaria has been in a constant and ceaseless nightmare for two years."
"The investigation began in an outrageous manner as a murder investigation with the initial intention of imprisoning him for the rest of his life," Sheftel claimed, further asserting that "morale in the army will increase the sooner he is released."
Azaria, he said, "has behaved impeccably throughout his imprisonment. After a month, he was already included in the vacations rotation and got a 96-hour furlough for Rosh HaShana. Since then, he has gone on furlough every month. This is considered unusual and it is because of his impeccable behavior and the fact the prison authorities have done everything they could within the restrictions of the law to make it easier on him, because they too believe he doesn't belong there. With this, they reflect the great majority of the people of Zion."
"Azaria believes he has been seriously wronged, and the video he released before entering prison was watched by two million people. Only the prime minister has more views. And even then, (Azaria) nobly called on the youth to enlist in the army," Sheftel went on to say.
According to Sheftel, "even the IDF chief believes the punishment was too grave. We've never seen a situation in which, while the verdict was being read out, a statement by the IDF chief was released in which he called on Azaria to ask for a mitigation of his punishment with a hint thick as an elephant's skin that the request will be accepted—and so it was. Eventually, the IDF chief did mitigate 22 percent of the punishment. There has never been a case in which the parole board rejected a request for an early release from a soldier whose punishment was mitigated by the IDF chief."
Azaria addressed the court himself as well, repeating the same claims he made during his trial. "I shot a murderous terrorist because in the field, in real time, I was sure he had a bomb on him and felt in immediate danger. If I had known otherwise in the field, in real time, I would've acted differently," he said.
"I contributed a lot to the state's security in my army service, from the long and exhausting training to the arrests and many operations, in bad conditions and difficult situations that you encounter when walking inside a village and the fear is climbing up your body. You could be dead at any second," Azaria continued.
He noted that "I was wounded in my service from a block thrown at me, and I continued serving and contributing. I was in difficult situations that are far from the air-conditioned rooms. I ask you, return me home and let me mend the fractures. There's a bleeding wound in my family and in the entire people of Israel that must be allowed to heal. Release me today. I'm asking you."
The prosecutor, Col. Sharon Zagagi-Pinhas, argued that "cutting the punishment by half is done only in unusual circumstances to create congruence with the civilian equivalent, according to which a prisoner turns to the parole board after serving two-thirds of his punishment. In the great majority of case, cutting a sentence by half has so far only been done for medical reasons."
"Our position is to leave the matter of Azaria's early release to the consideration of the parole board after he serves two-thirds of his sentence," she added.
"In this case, there are no considerations to cutting the punishment by half, but there are to rejecting the current request," Col. Zagagi-Pinhas argued.
"Azaria was convicted of a serious offense of manslaughter. The offense was carried out with intention and not out of negligence or mistake, according to the determination of the court. Throughout the proceedings, the prisoner has not taken responsibility for his actions, nor did he express regret. We haven't heard that today either; and this morning we even heard a certain degree of rejection of the appeal court's ruling. The court determined Azaria's actions could damage the strength of the IDF."
IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot reduced Azaria's sentence by four months in September. “Your conduct was unacceptable and was contrary to the army's command and values of the IDF,” Eisenkot wrote at the time, qualifying the sympathy behind his decision.
The IDF chief further rebuked Azaria for “the fact that you didn’t take responsibility for your actions and that you never expressed regret.”
Last November, President Reuven Rivlin rejected Azaria's pardon request. At the time, Rivlin noted that "taking all considerations into account ... an additional lightening of your sentence would harm the resilience to the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel. The values of the Israel Defense Forces, and among them the Purity of Arms, are the core foundation of the strength of the Israel Defense Forces, and have always stood strong for us in the just struggle for our right to a safe, national home, and in the building a robust society."
6 mar 2018

Emad Abu Shamsiya
An extremist Jewish settler on Tuesday attempted to ram his car into a Palestinian human rights activist Emad Abu Shamsiya.
Abu Shamsiya said that while he was returning home in Tal al-Rumaidah neighborhood, a fanatic settler, called Ofer, tried to hit him by his car before he hardly managed to escape.
He pointed out that it was not the first time in which he was subjected to such an attack in the area by Israeli settlers. “I immediately filed a complaint to the Israeli occupation police against settler Ofer as I was able to recognize his face”, Abu Shamsiya said.
An extremist Jewish settler on Tuesday attempted to ram his car into a Palestinian human rights activist Emad Abu Shamsiya.
Abu Shamsiya said that while he was returning home in Tal al-Rumaidah neighborhood, a fanatic settler, called Ofer, tried to hit him by his car before he hardly managed to escape.
He pointed out that it was not the first time in which he was subjected to such an attack in the area by Israeli settlers. “I immediately filed a complaint to the Israeli occupation police against settler Ofer as I was able to recognize his face”, Abu Shamsiya said.
4 jan 2018

Emad Abu Shamsiya
Dozens of Jewish settlers on Thursday evening performed Talmudic rituals and dances over the rooftop of a Palestinian activist’s home, Emad Abu Shamsiya, in Tel al-Rumaidah neighborhood in al-Khalil downtown.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli occupation forces, who were intensively deployed in the area, offered protection to the Jewish extremist settlers.
Abu Shamsiya is a human rights activist who works on documenting Israeli violations and offensive practices. He had earlier documented the murder of martyr Abdulfattah al-Sharif in al-Khalil. Since then, he and his home have come under repeated violations by Israeli soldiers and settlers.
Dozens of Jewish settlers on Thursday evening performed Talmudic rituals and dances over the rooftop of a Palestinian activist’s home, Emad Abu Shamsiya, in Tel al-Rumaidah neighborhood in al-Khalil downtown.
Eyewitnesses said that Israeli occupation forces, who were intensively deployed in the area, offered protection to the Jewish extremist settlers.
Abu Shamsiya is a human rights activist who works on documenting Israeli violations and offensive practices. He had earlier documented the murder of martyr Abdulfattah al-Sharif in al-Khalil. Since then, he and his home have come under repeated violations by Israeli soldiers and settlers.
24 dec 2017

Parents of soldier who shot, killed neutralized terrorist in Hebron submit second pardon request to president, a month after original appeal was rejected; request also signed by PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Lieberman, other ministers, MKs; President's Residence: 'Additional request for pardon may only be made 6 months after previous decision.'
Charlie and Oshra Azaria, parents of former IDF soldier Elor Azaria who was convicted of shooting and killing a neutralized terrorist in Hebron, submitted a request for clemency to President Reuven Rivlin Sunday, a month after the president denied the soldier's original request.
In their letter, Azaria's parents appealed to Rivlin to "reconsider pardoning our son Elor". Azaria was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but is now slated to be released in October 2018, after Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot shortened his sentence by four months.
Azaria's parents attached an appendix to their pardon request containing another letter signed by 55 ministers and MKs, one of which was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Welfare Minister Haim Katz cosigned the letter.
Azaria's attorney Einat Gloser noted that "After the original request was denied, the prime minister, ministers and MKs signed a request to reexamine pardoning my client. We are of the opinion that this request, accompanied by the aforementioned signatures, constitutes special circumstances meriting reexamining the request for clemency."
"By the very nature of the prime minister and ministers' appeal to (President Rivlin), they believe pardoning my client will not damage the might of the IDF's soldiers or the State of Israel," Gloser added.
'Your decision can bring an end to the affair and restore calm to the discourse'
Charlie and Oshra Azaria, parents of former IDF soldier Elor Azaria who was convicted of shooting and killing a neutralized terrorist in Hebron, submitted a request for clemency to President Reuven Rivlin Sunday, a month after the president denied the soldier's original request.
In their letter, Azaria's parents appealed to Rivlin to "reconsider pardoning our son Elor". Azaria was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but is now slated to be released in October 2018, after Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot shortened his sentence by four months.
Azaria's parents attached an appendix to their pardon request containing another letter signed by 55 ministers and MKs, one of which was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Welfare Minister Haim Katz cosigned the letter.
Azaria's attorney Einat Gloser noted that "After the original request was denied, the prime minister, ministers and MKs signed a request to reexamine pardoning my client. We are of the opinion that this request, accompanied by the aforementioned signatures, constitutes special circumstances meriting reexamining the request for clemency."
"By the very nature of the prime minister and ministers' appeal to (President Rivlin), they believe pardoning my client will not damage the might of the IDF's soldiers or the State of Israel," Gloser added.
'Your decision can bring an end to the affair and restore calm to the discourse'

The prime minister, ministers and MKs' signatures
The letter—signed by the prime minister and other senior government officials—said, "We the undersigned ask you to reconsider your decision and pardon Elor Azaria. The Azaria affair has torn Israeli society asunder and created division and polarization, and your decision (to pardon Azaria) can end it all and restore calm to the discourse. One cannot ignore the general public's opinion, which maintains Azaria was a scapegoat who was unwillingly turned into a symbol and paid the price for it.
"Azaria was incarcerated at the Nahshonim base for 18 months. He has spent the last four months incarcerated in a military prison and—along with his family—has gone through an excruciating journey. His father heard of your decision to not pardon him while he was waiting for an MRI exam in a hospital. He suffered a stroke due to the events. His mother lost dozens of kilograms and her mental state is in shambles. It is our opinion that in this instance it would be proper to express a measure of mercy, and put an end to the Azaria family's suffering of the past two years.
"We mustn't forget, Mr. President, that the case involves an exemplary combat soldier, who acted in the scene of a terrorist attack against a terrorist who wished to murder soldiers in Hebron, and in the midst of a nationwide wave of terrorism. It is our subjective opinion that Azaria felt danger due to the knife's proximity to the terrorist and statements made on the scene that he still posed a danger and carried an explosive device, statements made after soldiers were stabbed when the terrorist was still moving on the road.
"Legal arguments have been made, the sentence has been passed and Elor started serving his prison term. When he began serving his sentence, he stated that he would not have fired on the terrorist if he had known he was not carrying an explosive device. He added he was proud to wear the IDF's uniforms and called upon teenagers to enlist and serve their people and country with pride and love. This too should be taken into consideration.
"The chief of staff has decided to reduce Elor Azaria's sentenced by four months, but it is within your power, Mr. President—and only within your power—to pardon him immediately and bring an end to this grim affair. Each official wields their own power, and the fact the chief of staff decided to shorten his sentence justifies a further reduction on your part, and not vice versa."
The President's Residence commented on the second pardon request, saying, "The request was received and will be answered directly to the people who submitted it. It's important to note that despite years' long policy on handling pardons, a renewed pardon request may only be submitted after six months have elapsed from the date of the president's previous decision on a pardon, unless a significant change in circumstances had occurred."
The letter—signed by the prime minister and other senior government officials—said, "We the undersigned ask you to reconsider your decision and pardon Elor Azaria. The Azaria affair has torn Israeli society asunder and created division and polarization, and your decision (to pardon Azaria) can end it all and restore calm to the discourse. One cannot ignore the general public's opinion, which maintains Azaria was a scapegoat who was unwillingly turned into a symbol and paid the price for it.
"Azaria was incarcerated at the Nahshonim base for 18 months. He has spent the last four months incarcerated in a military prison and—along with his family—has gone through an excruciating journey. His father heard of your decision to not pardon him while he was waiting for an MRI exam in a hospital. He suffered a stroke due to the events. His mother lost dozens of kilograms and her mental state is in shambles. It is our opinion that in this instance it would be proper to express a measure of mercy, and put an end to the Azaria family's suffering of the past two years.
"We mustn't forget, Mr. President, that the case involves an exemplary combat soldier, who acted in the scene of a terrorist attack against a terrorist who wished to murder soldiers in Hebron, and in the midst of a nationwide wave of terrorism. It is our subjective opinion that Azaria felt danger due to the knife's proximity to the terrorist and statements made on the scene that he still posed a danger and carried an explosive device, statements made after soldiers were stabbed when the terrorist was still moving on the road.
"Legal arguments have been made, the sentence has been passed and Elor started serving his prison term. When he began serving his sentence, he stated that he would not have fired on the terrorist if he had known he was not carrying an explosive device. He added he was proud to wear the IDF's uniforms and called upon teenagers to enlist and serve their people and country with pride and love. This too should be taken into consideration.
"The chief of staff has decided to reduce Elor Azaria's sentenced by four months, but it is within your power, Mr. President—and only within your power—to pardon him immediately and bring an end to this grim affair. Each official wields their own power, and the fact the chief of staff decided to shorten his sentence justifies a further reduction on your part, and not vice versa."
The President's Residence commented on the second pardon request, saying, "The request was received and will be answered directly to the people who submitted it. It's important to note that despite years' long policy on handling pardons, a renewed pardon request may only be submitted after six months have elapsed from the date of the president's previous decision on a pardon, unless a significant change in circumstances had occurred."
15 dec 2017

Maariv newspaper reported on Friday that the Israeli president, Reuven Rivlin, decided to grant the Israeli soldier Elor Azariya a presidential pardon ahead of the so-called Israel's Independence Day.
Earlier in 2016, Azariya shot dead the Palestinian youth Abdul Fattah al-Sahrif, who was injured and lying immobile on the ground, and was sentenced by a military court to 18 months in prison over manslaughter.
Shortly after the verdict was issued, the chief of general staff of the Israeli army, Gadi Eizenkot, announced a four-month reduction in Azariya's sentence. Israel's war minister, Avigdor Lieberman, also asked Rivlin to reduce the soldier's sentence.
About a month ago, Rivlin rejected an appeal for pardon filed by Elor Azariya.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later joined a list of MKs in signing a letter appealing to Rivlin to reconsider pardoning the Israeli soldier.
The Hebrew newspaper noted, quoting sources close to Rivlin, that Azariya is expected to be released during the Independence Day celebrations.
Israel's Independence Day marks the establishment of "the state of Israel" in occupied Palestine following dozens of massacres committed against hundreds of thousands of indigenous people.
Earlier in 2016, Azariya shot dead the Palestinian youth Abdul Fattah al-Sahrif, who was injured and lying immobile on the ground, and was sentenced by a military court to 18 months in prison over manslaughter.
Shortly after the verdict was issued, the chief of general staff of the Israeli army, Gadi Eizenkot, announced a four-month reduction in Azariya's sentence. Israel's war minister, Avigdor Lieberman, also asked Rivlin to reduce the soldier's sentence.
About a month ago, Rivlin rejected an appeal for pardon filed by Elor Azariya.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later joined a list of MKs in signing a letter appealing to Rivlin to reconsider pardoning the Israeli soldier.
The Hebrew newspaper noted, quoting sources close to Rivlin, that Azariya is expected to be released during the Independence Day celebrations.
Israel's Independence Day marks the establishment of "the state of Israel" in occupied Palestine following dozens of massacres committed against hundreds of thousands of indigenous people.
27 nov 2017

Azaria asked President Rivlin to pardon him, saying he had not received a fair trial
Netanyahu, Lieberman, Shaked among senior officials who sign letter beseeching President Rivlin to reconsider pardoning Elor Azaria; 'Pardon requests may only be made by person in question, their attorneys or their family,' President's Residence says, adding additional request may only be made 6 months after previous denial.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined a list of MKs in signing a letter appealing to President Reuven Rivlin to reconsider pardoning former soldier Elor Azaria, convicted of manslaughter for shooting a neutralized terrorist and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In addition to the prime minister, Ministers Avigdor Lieberman, Ayelet Shaked, Ze'ev Elkin and Haim Katz signed the letter as well.
Sources within the President's Residence responded they had yet to receive the letter and vowed it would be given the appropriate reply once reviewed. However, the sources said, "Requests for pardons are only accepted from the person in question, their attorneys or first degree relatives."
"In addition, it's important to remember that according to long-standing policy on pardons, an additional request for pardon may only be made six months after the president's decision on the previous request, unless a significant change in circumstances occurred," the sources clarified.
President Rivlin rejected Azaria's pardon request last week. "The President concluded that taking all considerations into account ... an additional lightening of your sentence would harm the resilience to the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel," Rivlin wrote in a letter to Azaria explaining his decision.
"The values of the Israel Defense Forces, and among them the Purity of Arms, are the core foundation of the strength of the Israel Defense Forces, and have always stood strong for us in the just struggle for our right to a safe, national home, and in the building a robust society," the letter continued.
Azaria filed his request a month ago, telling the president: "I unfortunately did not receive a just trial. This is how I feel, and nothing can change it. In any case, I ask for a measure of justice and mercy, the essence of the presidential pardon, from His Excellency the President in this request."
Azaria also referred to claims he had never expressed remorse for his actions. "I've read and heard reactions to my decision to not express remorse for shooting the terrorist. That is not accurate: were I to know with certainty, during those tense second on the scene, that the terrorist was not boobytrapped, I would absolutely not have shot him. Therefore, and in hindsight alone, shooting the terrorist was an operational mistake," Azaria's letter to Rivlin said.
Netanyahu agreeing to sign the letter was not the prime minister's first show of public support for Azaria. After the soldier's appeal was denied, Netanyahu said, "My stance, as I expressed it after the verdict, has remained unchanged regarding pardoning Azaria. When the matter becomes practical, I will forward my recommendation to pardon to the relevant parties."
The prime minister also spoke with Azaria's parents on the phone before he was sentenced.
Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid commented on Netanyahu's signing of the letter, saying his signature constituted a "direct attack on the president of Israel, the chief of staff and the IDF."
Netanyahu, Lieberman, Shaked among senior officials who sign letter beseeching President Rivlin to reconsider pardoning Elor Azaria; 'Pardon requests may only be made by person in question, their attorneys or their family,' President's Residence says, adding additional request may only be made 6 months after previous denial.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined a list of MKs in signing a letter appealing to President Reuven Rivlin to reconsider pardoning former soldier Elor Azaria, convicted of manslaughter for shooting a neutralized terrorist and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In addition to the prime minister, Ministers Avigdor Lieberman, Ayelet Shaked, Ze'ev Elkin and Haim Katz signed the letter as well.
Sources within the President's Residence responded they had yet to receive the letter and vowed it would be given the appropriate reply once reviewed. However, the sources said, "Requests for pardons are only accepted from the person in question, their attorneys or first degree relatives."
"In addition, it's important to remember that according to long-standing policy on pardons, an additional request for pardon may only be made six months after the president's decision on the previous request, unless a significant change in circumstances occurred," the sources clarified.
President Rivlin rejected Azaria's pardon request last week. "The President concluded that taking all considerations into account ... an additional lightening of your sentence would harm the resilience to the Israel Defense Forces and the State of Israel," Rivlin wrote in a letter to Azaria explaining his decision.
"The values of the Israel Defense Forces, and among them the Purity of Arms, are the core foundation of the strength of the Israel Defense Forces, and have always stood strong for us in the just struggle for our right to a safe, national home, and in the building a robust society," the letter continued.
Azaria filed his request a month ago, telling the president: "I unfortunately did not receive a just trial. This is how I feel, and nothing can change it. In any case, I ask for a measure of justice and mercy, the essence of the presidential pardon, from His Excellency the President in this request."
Azaria also referred to claims he had never expressed remorse for his actions. "I've read and heard reactions to my decision to not express remorse for shooting the terrorist. That is not accurate: were I to know with certainty, during those tense second on the scene, that the terrorist was not boobytrapped, I would absolutely not have shot him. Therefore, and in hindsight alone, shooting the terrorist was an operational mistake," Azaria's letter to Rivlin said.
Netanyahu agreeing to sign the letter was not the prime minister's first show of public support for Azaria. After the soldier's appeal was denied, Netanyahu said, "My stance, as I expressed it after the verdict, has remained unchanged regarding pardoning Azaria. When the matter becomes practical, I will forward my recommendation to pardon to the relevant parties."
The prime minister also spoke with Azaria's parents on the phone before he was sentenced.
Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid commented on Netanyahu's signing of the letter, saying his signature constituted a "direct attack on the president of Israel, the chief of staff and the IDF."