Israeli President Rivlin rejects Hebron shooter's appeal

The Israeli soldier, Elor Azaria, was convicted of manslaughter, and jailed for 18 months, for the March 2016 killing of Abdel al-Fattah al-Sharif in the occupied West Bank

Israeli president Reuven Rivlin rejected Hebron shooter Elor Azaria’s request for a pardon, Sunday.

According to a statement from Rivlin’s office: “The president has taken into account the offenses you committed and their circumstances… and he has decided to reject the request.”

This rejection comes after Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, asked for a pardon in a letter to the president two weeks ago.

Azaria is a former army medic who shot and killed Abdel Fatah Al-Sharif a Palestinian youth who lay incapacitated on the ground on 24 March 2016.

Read: Lieberman urges Rivlin to pardon soldier who killed wounded Palestinian

Azaria was found guilty of manslaughter by a military court in January and sentenced 18 months in prison, and was demoted to the rank of private in February.

Videos of the incident show Azaria shooting the incapacitated Al-Sharif while he lay immobile on in the street.

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