Zamir and Manpower Chief Oppose Erasing Elor Azaria's Criminal Record

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Manpower Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa oppose shortening the deletion period for Elor Azaria's criminal record, in an opinion sent to the President's Residence. The document says clemency is an exception reserved for unusual, weighty circumstances. It cites Azaria's failure to express remorse or accept responsibility nearly a decade after his military-court conviction for shooting an incapacitated Palestinian attacker who had stabbed an IDF soldier. Military Advocate General Itai Ofir joined the position; Defense Minister Israel Katz separately urged President Isaac Herzog to grant the request and let Azaria rebuild his civilian life.