Almost a decade after the affair that shook the country: President Yitzhak Herzog decided to grant Elor Azaria's request and shorten the period for erasing his criminal record.
Herzog signed the decision tonight, the eve of Yom Kippur.
The President's Office explained that it was accepted after examining all the circumstances of the case, and in the spirit of the Days of Mercy and Forgiveness.
At the center of the considerations was the considerable time that had passed since the affair, the fact that Azaria had served his sentence, and the statute of limitations for the offenses he committed, which had already passed.
The president also took into account the changes that have occurred over the years in Azaria's personal and family life and his request to remove the barriers facing him in the field of employment.
In his address to Herzog, Azaria also addressed the IDF's values. He emphasized that he respects them and that they are dear to him, and that today, as a father of two small children, he seeks to educate them in their light as well. At the same time, he expressed sorrow for the difficult consequences of the affair.
Another consideration in Herzog's decision was the complex medical circumstances that the Azaria family had faced over the years. The president believed that after about a decade, after Azaria had served his sentence and paid his debt to society, and after his sentence had already been commuted by then-Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, he could be allowed to continue his life.
However, Herzog sought to clarify that his decision does not change the approach to the legal process that took place in the case. He said that the move does not constitute an appeal of the verdict or a re-examination of it.
President Herzog emphasized the importance of the military justice system in maintaining the rule of law and the values of the IDF, and in particular the principle of the purity of weapons. He clarified that the institution of pardon is an "institution of mercy" and does not serve as an appeals court. Azaria himself also clarified in his address that he does not intend to reopen the case.
Ultimately, Herzog accepted the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz and ordered the immediate shortening of Azaria's criminal record period.
Defense Minister Israel Katz responded: "I congratulate President Yitzhak Herzog on his decision to accept my recommendation to pardon Elor Azaria and erase his criminal record. On the eve of Yom Kippur, this is a correct, humane and appropriate decision, expressing the spirit of forgiveness and the possibility of turning a new page.".
""Elor served as an outstanding soldier and combat medic in the Kfir Brigade and was involved in an incident during a complex operational activity. After a decade, after serving his sentence and paying a heavy personal and family price, the time has come to allow him to leave the past behind him, rebuild his life and build his future.".
""Granting the pardon sends an important message to IDF fighters and their families: We do not abandon fighters and we do not leave them behind.".
""Elor, I strengthen you and your family and wish you a happy ending and a year of new beginnings.".
