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Shorter prison term for Israeli soldier who killed wounded Palestinian

Elor Azaria, jailed in August, will now serve 14 months

September 28, 2017 09:12
Israeli soldier Elor Azaria pictured in August arriving in to serve his sentence for shooting dead a disarmed and injured Palestinian attacker
1 min read

The IDF has reduced the prison sentence of a soldier convicted of manslaughter for shooting dead an incapacitated Palestinian assailant.

Gadi Eizenkot, the IDF chief of staff, announced on Wednesday that the 18 month prison sentence of former IDF sergeant Elor Azaria would be reduced by four months, having previously refused a request to pardon him altogether.

In March 2016, Azaria was videoed shooting dead a wounded Palestinian man who had stabbed three other Israeli soldiers. Azaria was subsequently arrested by the Israeli Military Police and put on trial.

After an eight month trial which divided Israeli society, Azaria was found guilty in January, with prominent politicians, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then calling for him to be pardoned.