Israelis demonstrate support for Azaria judges

Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday night to demonstrate in support of the three judges who indicted Sergeant Elor Azaria for killing a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian in Hebron, local media have reported.

The demonstrators said that their action was intended “to show unity” after a wave of negative comments following the judgement against the Israeli soldier. A number of senior Israeli officials, including High Court judges, criticised the verdict of manslaughter.

Some Israeli politicians also took part in Sunday’s protest, which was called for by a reserve soldier on his Facebook page. Zeev Shilon said that he feels Israeli society “has recently dilapidated.” Together tonight, he wrote, centrists and leftists.

The reservist added that he is worried about the wave of “incitement” that followed Azaria’s indictment and a clash between a number of right-wingers and the police.