Criminal9/19/2026

President Herzog Ordered the Expungement of Elor Azaria’s Criminal Record

Israeli President Isaac Herzog granted Elor Azaria’s request and ordered the expungement of the remaining period of his criminal record. The decision was made about ten years after the incident for which Azaria was convicted of causing death and served nine months in prison.

Key facts

•The decision was published on September 19, 2026
•The incident occurred in March 2016
•Original prison term — 18 months
•Reduced prison term — 14 months
•Nine months were served in practice
•The case number is not stated in the source

What Azaria Was Convicted Of

In March 2016, Elor Azaria, an IDF combat medic, shot Palestinian Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif, who was lying wounded and incapacitated on the ground after a stabbing attack in Tel Rumeida in Hebron. Azaria was convicted of causing death and sentenced to 18 months in prison, a 12-month suspended sentence, and demotion to the rank of private.

How the Sentence Was Carried Out

After he submitted a request for a military pardon to IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, his prison sentence was reduced from 18 to 14 months. Azaria was released after nine months following a one-third reduction in his prison term.

Why the President Granted the Request

The President’s Residence said that Herzog took into account the significant period of time that had passed since the events, the completion of the sentence imposed, the expiration of the limitation period for the acts committed, and changes in Azaria’s personal and family circumstances. The reasons cited included medical circumstances in his family and his desire to remove employment-related obstacles. Also taken into account were Azaria’s expressed remorse over the affair’s severe consequences and his assertion that, in hindsight, the shooting was an operational error that he would not repeat.

The Judgment Was Not Reconsidered

The President’s Residence emphasized that the decision does not cast doubt on the military judicial proceedings that took place and does not constitute a reconsideration of them. The institution of pardon was defined not as an appellate instance, but as an “institution of mercy.” Azaria himself also stated that he did not intend to reopen the dispute over the affair.

What this means for you

Expunging the remaining period of the criminal record is intended to remove the obstacles associated with it, first and foremost in employment. However, the president’s decision does not overturn the judgment and does not constitute acknowledgment of errors in the military judicial proceedings. The case illustrates that, when considering a pardon request, the time elapsed, completion of the sentence, and changes in personal and family circumstances may be taken into account.

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Case analysis based on court rulings