Elor Azaria
Photo: Tzipi Schlisel/TPS
Israeli soldier: 'No regrets' about killing wounded terrorist
In an interview with Israel Hayom Elor Azaria said he has no regrets for killing wounded terrorist after Hebron attack; Azaria served 14 months in prison for manslaughter, IDF says he violated its ethics rules.
JERUSALEM -- A former Israeli soldier who fatally shot a wounded Palestinian terrorist who was lying on the ground says he "has no regrets" in his first interview since leaving prison three months ago.
Elor Azaria told the Hebrew-language daily Israel Hayom on Wednesday that if he could relive the March 2016 incident in the West Bank city of Hebron, "I would act exactly the same, because that's how I needed to act."
Azaria leaving prison (Photo: Yair Sagi)
Azaria served two-thirds of a 14-month reduced sentence after being convicted of manslaughter.
The combat medic was filmed shooting a wounded, incapacitated Palestinian attacker. Israel's military pushed for his prosecution, saying Azaria violated its ethics. Azaria says in the interview that the military "abandoned" him, echoing sentiments of many Israelis, particularly on the nationalist right, who defended his actions.
