President Isaac Herzog announced on the eve of Yom Kippur his decision to grant the request of Defense Minister Israel Katz to expunge the remaining criminal record of Elor Azaria. Azaria was previously convicted in a military court of manslaughter after shooting a neutralized terrorist in Tel Rumeida, Hebron, in 2016. The President explained his decision by noting the significant time elapsed since the incident, that Azaria served his sentence, expressed sorrow, and that there are complex personal and medical circumstances regarding his family.
In his statement, the President emphasized that the institution of pardon is an act of grace and not an appellate court for the original verdict, clarifying that the decision does not undermine the integrity of the military legal process or the values of purity of arms. Defense Minister Katz, who led the initiative, welcomed the move, stating that it is a humane decision that allows Azaria to rehabilitate and turn a new page. According to Katz, this is an outstanding soldier who paid a heavy price, and granting the pardon sends a message of support to IDF soldiers.
However, the move sparked criticism from senior military ranks. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Head of the Manpower Directorate Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa opposed the request. In their position, submitted to the Defense Minister, they stated that a pardon is an exceptional measure reserved only for heavy-weight circumstances. IDF officials emphasized that the request was reviewed by the Military Advocate General, the Manpower Directorate, and the Chief of Staff, and their conclusion was that there were no circumstances to justify the expungement.
The IDF also noted that no new or personal circumstances were found to justify a change from previous decisions, and argued that the applicant refrained from expressing remorse. The Elor Azaria affair began in March 2016 and was at the center of a stormy public discourse in Israel. Azaria was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 18 months in prison, a sentence later shortened by then-Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. He was released from prison in May 2018 after serving two-thirds of his shortened sentence. President Herzog's decision marks the final stage of this long-standing affair, reflecting the tension between values of rehabilitation and the principles of military law.