ByAnshel Pfeffer, Anshel Pfeffer
Sergeant Elor Azaria, the soldier charged with manslaughter after shooting dead a wounded Palestinian attacker in Hebron, gave evidence this week at a military court in Jaffa.
During his three days of testimony, Sgt Azaria accused his commanding officers of abandoning him following the incident earlier this year.
The crux of his evidence was the claim that he had acted in the belief that the wounded man was wearing a suicide explosive belt under his coat. Sgt Azaria said he had shot the man to prevent an explosion which would have caused many casualties.
The prosecution claims there was no indication that that had been Sgt Azaria's intention and his true motive was the belief the Palestinian "deserved to die".
But Azaria attacked his immediate officers, including battalion and brigade commanders, who have all testified against him in recent weeks.
It was my first real incident, my first casualty
He accused them of lying to the court.
"I feel betrayed by my commanders," he said. "I explained to them that it was my first real incident, my first casualty. They attacked me without even trying to understand me at all."
Alluding to criticism of his conduct by the IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and former Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon, Azaria said he had "lost faith in the high command" and accused them of "throwing me to the dogs because of their fear of the media".
Sgt Azaria's lawyers plan to take evidence from former senior officers next week.