But the decision ignited a firestorm that had simmered for nearly two decades. Two years after the Hebron stabbing, Azaria was convicted of manslaughter by a military court that rarely sentences soldiers for lethal field actions— a verdict that stunned generals and rallied public support.
—The pardon came on the recommendation of Defence Minister Israel Katz, who framed Azaria’s act as a “right, humane, and fitting decision” in the context of a complex operational mission. Herzog cited the time elapsed and the approaching Yom Kippur as key reasons, insisting the move did not re‑evaluate the original case.
—Right‑wing Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir cheered the outcome, calling it emotional and happy, while Palestinian human‑rights groups slammed the 18‑month sentence as too lenient. The release will see Azaria’s criminal record expunged, a step that many see as a symbolic reversal of a rare military conviction.
—The next phase will involve a formal court hearing that could set a precedent for future clemency cases involving soldiers in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, families of the soldiers killed in the original attack have mixed feelings, with some hoping for closure and others fearing a repeat of past violence. NEWPAR