Maariv newspaper reported on Friday that the Israeli president Reuven Rivlin decided to grant the Israeli soldier Elor Azariya a presidential pardon ahead of the so-called Israel’s Independence Day.
Earlier in 2017 Azariya shot dead the Palestinian youth Abdul Fattah al-Sahrif who was injured and lying immobile on the ground and was sentenced by a military court to 18 months in prison over manslaughter.
Shortly after the verdict was issued the chief of general staff of the Israeli army Gadi Eizenkot announced a four-month reduction in Azariya’s sentence. Israel’s war minister Avigdor Lieberman also asked Rivlin to reduce the soldier’s sentence.
About a month ago Rivlin rejected an appeal for pardon filed by Elor Azariya.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later joined a list of MKs in signing a letter appealing to Rivlin to reconsider pardoning the Israeli soldier.
The Hebrew newspaper noted quoting sources close to Rivlin that Azariya is expected to be released during the Independence Day celebrations.
Israel’s Independence Day marks the establishment of “the state of Israel” in occupied Palestine following dozens of massacres committed against thousands of indigenous people.
