Liberman calls on president to pardon jailed Hebron shooter immediately
Elor Azaria is commonly known as the "Hebron shooter," and his case has gained country-wide attention.
By ANNA AHRONHEIMUpdated: OCTOBER 23, 2017 22:54Former Israeli soldier Elor Azaria (C), who was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for killing a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian assailant, waits to hear the ruling at an Israeli military appeals court in Tel Aviv, Israel July 30, 2017. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has called for former IDF soldier Elor Azaria to be released from prison, saying: “I want to remind you that, in the end, this is a case of an outstanding soldier and a terrorist who tried to kill IDF soldiers. Everyone is aware that both Azaria and his family paid a heavy price.”Speaking at the opening of a meeting of the Yisrael Beytenu faction, Liberman said that “the affair also affects the IDF. We should leave it behind us as soon as possible. We have to release him immediately.”IDF soldier shoots dead subdued Palestinian terrorist in Hebron, part of Elor Azaria caseAzaria was found guilty of manslaughter by a military court in January for killing incapacitated Palestinian attacker Abdel Fatah al-Sharif in Hebron on March 24, 2016.He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and demoted to private in February. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Col. Gadi Eisenkot shortened his sentence to 14 months, and Azaria petitioned President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday for a pardon.