This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-42045377
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Israeli president rejects pardon for soldier Elor Azaria | Israeli president rejects pardon for soldier Elor Azaria |
(1 day later) | |
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has rejected an appeal for a pardon for a soldier jailed for 18 months for killing a wounded Palestinian attacker. | Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has rejected an appeal for a pardon for a soldier jailed for 18 months for killing a wounded Palestinian attacker. |
Elor Azaria was found guilty in January of manslaughter over the March 2016 shooting of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, 21, in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. | Elor Azaria was found guilty in January of manslaughter over the March 2016 shooting of Abdul Fatah al-Sharif, 21, in Hebron, in the occupied West Bank. |
In January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Azaria, who was demoted from sergeant, to be pardoned. | |
Azaria submitted a formal request last month. | |
The case has divided Israeli opinion. | The case has divided Israeli opinion. |
"President Reuven Rivlin today took the decision to deny the request for a pardon filed by Elor Azaria," the president's office said in a statement on Sunday. | "President Reuven Rivlin today took the decision to deny the request for a pardon filed by Elor Azaria," the president's office said in a statement on Sunday. |
It added that Mr Rivlin had taken into account both the offences committed by Azaria and their circumstances. | It added that Mr Rivlin had taken into account both the offences committed by Azaria and their circumstances. |
Azaria, 19 at the time of the incident, shot Abdul Fatah al-Sharif in the head while he was lying immobile on a road on 24 March 2016. | Azaria, 19 at the time of the incident, shot Abdul Fatah al-Sharif in the head while he was lying immobile on a road on 24 March 2016. |
Sharif and another 21-year-old Palestinian, Ramzi Aziz al-Qasrawi, had stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier before troops opened fire on them, wounding Sharif and killing Qasrawi. | Sharif and another 21-year-old Palestinian, Ramzi Aziz al-Qasrawi, had stabbed and wounded an Israeli soldier before troops opened fire on them, wounding Sharif and killing Qasrawi. |
Footage of the scene several minutes later, filmed by a Palestinian and released by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, shows Sharif alive, wounded and unarmed. | Footage of the scene several minutes later, filmed by a Palestinian and released by the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, shows Sharif alive, wounded and unarmed. |
A soldier, identified as Azaria, is then seen cocking his rifle and fatally shooting Sharif in the head from several metres away. | A soldier, identified as Azaria, is then seen cocking his rifle and fatally shooting Sharif in the head from several metres away. |
A military court convicted the soldier after dismissing his assertion that the Palestinian still posed a danger. | A military court convicted the soldier after dismissing his assertion that the Palestinian still posed a danger. |
There have been rallies in Israel in support of the soldier, but top military figures say his actions do not reflect the values of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). | There have been rallies in Israel in support of the soldier, but top military figures say his actions do not reflect the values of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). |
After the hearing in January, Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the soldier should be pardoned. | After the hearing in January, Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the soldier should be pardoned. |
In July, an appeal over Azaria's sentence was rejected by an Israeli military court. | In July, an appeal over Azaria's sentence was rejected by an Israeli military court. |
Manslaughter in Israel carries a maximum 20-year term. | Manslaughter in Israel carries a maximum 20-year term. |
Previous version
1
Next version