Israel

Opinion split as IDF medic set to face trial

April 21, 2016 10:29
Sergeant Elor Azaria
1 min read

An IDF sergeant has been charged with manslaughter by a military court following the shooting of a wounded Palestinian attacker in Hebron last month.

The case of Sergeant Elor Azaria has split Israeli society and political opinion. According to polls, a large section of the public believes he should not go on trial.

According to the charge-sheet prepared by the military prosecutor, Sgt Azaria, who was a medic in a company of the Kfir Brigade stationed in Hebron, arrived on the scene after two Palestinian men were shot after attempting to stab soldiers.

Sgt Azaria shot Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif in the head in the incident on March 24. The second Palestinian was injured.

The deadly shot was fired, the court charges read, "against the rules of engagement and without operational justification, as the terrorist was wounded on the ground, not carrying out another attack and not posing an immediate and clear danger to the defendant, civilians and soldiers on the spot".

The defence is expected to argue in the trial that Sgt Azaria suspected that the wounded attacker could have been carrying an explosive device and acted to eliminate that potential threat.

A rally took place in Tel Aviv in support of Sgt Azaria on Tuesday evening, although a number of prominent artists who had been scheduled to appear backed out due to the public controversy.