While his name dropped from the media for a brief period of time, Elor Azariya is back in the news as the first session of his appeal of his manslaughter conviction got underway in the Defense Ministry on Wednesday, 7 Iyar.

The case deals with Azariya validating the kill of a wounded Arab terrorist in Hebron in March 2016 a short time after the same terrorist wounded IDF soldiers in a stabbing attack. In the appeal, defense counsel explains that a plethora of evidence brought on behalf of the soldier was simply ignored in his trial. Two of the three members of the original defense team have stepped down, leaving attorney Yoram Sheftal as the lone attorney in the defense’s corner.

Adding to the defense’s pressure is the fact that after an appeal was filed, the prosecution followed with its own appeal, asking the court to increase the 18-month prison term to 36-to-60 months.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)