A Presidential Act - Protecting the Values & Ethics of the Country

President Rivlin’s decision to deny Elor Azaria request for a pardon has evoked a backlash of populist rhetoric from the usual suspects along with a wave of incendiary and poisonous bile on social networks.  Incitement reminiscent of that preceding the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is once again rearing its ugly and indeed dangerous head, where police are now investigating a number of incidents.

Enough is enough.  Elor Azaria was found guilty of manslaughter by a military court.  The conviction was upheld by a court of appeal.  The Chief of Staff reduced the sentence following a request for leniency from Sergeant Azaria.  And now, The President has denied his request stating in his letter that any further reduction in his sentence could harm the IDF.

In this whole unfortunate incident it is critical to keep in mind that the case should never have gone to trial.   Azaria was exploited, badly advised to a level of negligence and ultimately sacrificed at the altar of blinkered ideology, political expediency and cynical self-interest.

The right thing for Elor Azaria to do after shooting an unarmed “neutralised” terrorist was to put his hand up, admit that he made a mistake and appeal to the mercy of the military judge.  He would have sat in a military prison for six months, if that.  Today this incident would be well behind him and he could continue his life in relative anonymity.

But no, certain politicians saw cheap political capital to be made.  Right wing extremists saw a prime candidate for martyrdom.  Cynical lawyers saw an opportunity for a high profile case with the potential for self- promotion and aggrandisement.  Without exception all saw Elor Azaria and his family as a convenient vehicle with which to promote their own interests and to hell with the consequences.  After all, the consequences would only be paid by Sergeant Azaria and his family.

As a result and despite his crime, Azaria is also a victim in this sorry saga.  That is why he received a relatively lenient sentence from the court to begin with, when considering he was convicted of manslaughter, which ordinarily would carry a far harsher sentence.  His sentence was then further reduced, despite the fact that Azaria has shown no remorse for his crime, and yes to those who may state otherwise, executing an unarmed prisoner is a crime.

The IDF’s strict rules of engagement and its purity of arms are key elements in its overall strength and ability to effectively defend the state and the citizens, all the citizens of Israel.

Contrary to the empty rhetoric from politicians on the right of the political map, President’s Rivlin’s decision has nothing whatsoever to do with right and left. 

Rivlin himself is a life-long Likudnik, ideologically allied with the right.  Unlike many of the new generation of right wing politicians however, Ruby Rivlin is also a democrat who understands the clear and present danger posed by those who would happily sacrifice our values, our hard won freedoms and our democracy for their own blinkered ideology.

The cynical exploitation of Elor Azaria is just one more ploy by those who have no compunction about politicising the IDF and who seek to undermine the checks and balances critical to our democracy.  In taking his decision President Rivlin has rejected populism and sent a clear message that Israel’s values, and those of the IDF, are sacrosanct, as is the rule of law and due process.

Thank you Mister President