Following the announcement of the 18-month sentence in the manslaughter trial of Sgt. Elor Azariya, the court announced he will be permitted a number of weeks to get his affairs in order before beginning to serve his term.

Azariya will report to prison on Sunday 7 Adar 5777 (March 5, 2017) at which time he will begin serving the 18-month sentence.

Barring unexpected circumstances, he will be released in a year as the system wipes one-third from a sentence of prisoners who do not make problems while serving their term, which is expected to be the case with Azariya.

Housing Minister (Kulanu) Yoav Galant, a retired IDF major-general, called on Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott to grant Azariya a pardon today. Galant added the case and subsequent trial has claimed a high price for Azariya and his family as well as the public at large.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)