Elor Azariya on Wednesday, 27 Adar, appeared before a parole board in the hope of being granted immediate release. The prosecution is opposed to permitting him to be released only after serving half his sentence, agreeing to remove one-third for good behavior, as is the norm. He was sentenced to an 18-month sentence, which was reduced to 14 months by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott.

Defense attorney Yoram Sheftal claimed that “Azaria has been in a constant and unending nightmare for two years. The investigation began as a murder investigation, scandalously with the initial intention of imprisoning him for life. The sooner this affair ends, the better for everyone. ”

Azariya was convicted of manslaughter after shooting a wounded terrorist dead in Hebron in 2016. The terrorist stabbed an IDF soldier shortly before being killed, but the court ruled the terrorist was already immobilized and there was no justification for Azariya firing.

Speaking to the media, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon stated Azariya’s request for an early release cannot be weighed prior to his expressing remorse over his actions, a fundamental component of gaining early release.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)