On Yom Kippur, Israel offers forgiveness to the killer of an unarmed Palestinian
On Yom Kippur, Israel offers forgiveness to the killer of an unarmed Palestinian Submitted by Lubna Masarwa on Fri, 09/25/2026 - 09:45 Killing Palestinians, whether it’s done by the Israeli army, police or settlers, has become part of everyday life An armed ultra-Orthodox Jewish man holds a child by the hand as he walks in the Old City in Jerusalem at the start of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur…
On Yom Kippur, Israel's President Isaac Herzog granted a pardon to Itamar Ben Gvir, a former soldier convicted of shooting a wounded Palestinian in 2016. This act has sparked debate, as it appears to condone violence and the killing of Palestinians. The incident occurred in 2016, when Elor Azaria, an Israeli soldier, shot 21-year-old Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, who was lying unarmed on the ground.
Azaria was initially convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but he was released in May 2018 after serving just nine months. The pardon by Herzog, during the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, has been criticized as it normalizes the killing of Palestinians and downplays the severity of the crime. This decision has been met with protests and criticism from various quarters, including left-wing groups and international observers.
The move comes amidst a growing trend of violence and impunity among Israeli citizens, with over 250,000 private firearm licenses issued in the country.
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