New Delhi, Sept. 21 -- Elor Azaria's conviction in 2017 for manslaughter and his release after serving two-thirds of his 18-month sentence drew enormous attention in Israel, where military service is compulsory for most Jewish men. In his first interview after his release, Azaria said that "I would act exactly the same, because that's how I needed to act."
Azaria had approached Abdel Fattah al-Sharif as he lay on the ground, unarmed and badly hurt, after stabbing a soldier in the city of Hebron. A cellphone video captured Azaria shooting al-Sharif in the head.
The office of President Isaac Herzog said in a statement that he acted on the recommendation of Defense Minister Israel Katz. The statement cited the time that had passed, and the s...