Israeli Soldier Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Killing Wounded Palestinian Attacker

An Israeli soldier who shot and killed a wounded and unconscious Palestinian attacker was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a court on Tuesday, March 3. This case has become one of the most controversial trials in Israeli history, and the light sentence issued for this soldier has sparked outrage among Palestinians. According to Reuters, Sergeant Elor Azaria was serving as a medic in Hebron when two Palestinians injured an Israeli soldier eleven months ago. One of the two Palestinian attackers was shot dead by Israeli soldiers, while the second was wounded. Eleven minutes later, while the Palestinian attacker, named Abdul Fattah al-Sharif, 21, lay injured and motionless on the ground, Sergeant Azaria aimed his gun at him and shot him in the head. With the 50th anniversary of the occupation of the West Bank approaching, there is a discussion that the Israeli army, by accusing Sergeant Azaria of violating military ethics, is distancing itself from the Israeli public, which is increasingly leaning towards right-wing policies in its dealings with Palestinians. A survey shows that nearly half of Israeli Jews believe any Palestinian attacker should be killed on the spot. A military court convicted Sergeant Azaria of manslaughter last month, a crime that under Israeli law can carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors had sought three to five years in prison, arguing that Sergeant Azaria killed an attacker who had assaulted Israeli soldiers just minutes earlier. The court explained its 18-month sentence by stating: 'The defendant acted as a judge and executioner and has shown no remorse for his crime.' The court justified the leniency of the sentence by stating that this incident occurred during Sergeant Azaria's first combat experience and that until that moment, his record had been clean. The father of Abdul Fattah al-Sharif told Reuters after the ruling: 'They have mocked us.' The Palestinian Authority stated that this ruling gives Israeli soldiers a 'green light' to execute Palestinians without fear of punishment. It is unlikely that this ruling will escalate anti-Israeli violence. Palestinians have long accused Israel of excessive military force in dealing with less-armed Palestinian attackers and do not expect Israeli soldiers to be punished for their actions. During the trial, Sergeant Azaria stated that although the Palestinian attacker was completely motionless, he believed he could still be dangerous because his knife was still nearby and he might be carrying explosives. One soldier during the trial quoted him as saying, 'He deserved to die.' Sergeant Azaria's lawyers described the court's ruling as lenient, but it is still unclear whether they will appeal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently abroad, has not reacted to the ruling but expressed sympathy during a phone call with the soldier's family when Sergeant Azaria was arrested. The Israeli Defense Minister also wrote on his Facebook page after the court's ruling: 'The terrorists came to kill Jews, and everyone should keep this in mind.'