Israel Katz's populist push to pardon Elor Azaria puts Israel at serious risk - comment

Defense Minister Israel Katz's recent request to pardon Elor Azaria, the soldier convicted of manslaughter for killing a disarmed and injured Palestinian attacker in Hebron in 2016, is being sharply criticized as a purely populist move that harms Israel's national interests. The article argues that this action represents a new low in political decision-making.

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Defense Minister Israel Katz's request to pardon Hebron shooter Elor Azaria is a new low in acting purely from populist political instincts, which will only harm Israel's national interests both domestically and especially globally.

Notably, the IDF opposed Katz's request, mirroring the stance of former President Reuven Rivlin, who had previously declined to grant Azaria a pardon. Azaria's own legal team had reportedly resigned, telling him he had been given a gift after he attempted to appeal his 18-month sentence. The article emphasizes that Azaria was convicted of manslaughter, not mere negligent homicide, for shooting the attacker who had been incapacitated for over 10 minutes.

The piece contends that Azaria already received a lenient sentence, taking into account his youth, lack of criminal record, stressful situation, and the fact that he shot a terrorist. These factors, it argues, led to the initial 18-month sentence, which was subsequently reduced twice by IDF authorities and parole boards to 14 months and then nine months. The author asserts that if Azaria had been judged solely on his actions of killing an incapacitated attacker out of revenge, a motive he admitted to commanders, he would have served significantly longer.

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All of the reasons for going easy on Azaria: he was young, had no criminal record, was in a stressful situation where his friends had been harmed, and had shot a terrorist - were already taken into account to given him the relatively light 18 month sentence as well as when that sentence was reduced twice by the IDF chief and parole boards down to 14 months and then nine months.

Katz's reference to the October 7, 2023 attacks is highlighted as particularly telling. The article concludes that Israel's decision to convict Azaria and send him to prison, rather than granting him early release or a pardon, is even more crucial today than in 2016. This stance is presented as vital for Israel's ethical standing and international image, especially in light of current challenges such as potential International Criminal Court arrest warrants and International Court of Justice genocide charges.

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But Katz's reference to October 7, 2023 is telling and is the main difference now.