In this scenario, Palestinian demonstrators are given more severe penalties compared to Israeli perpetrators convicted of homicide.
Rewritten Article:
Elor Azaria, formerly an Israeli solider, has seen his already scorned sentence reduced further, thanks to the army chief of staff. This decision comes amidst his cold-blooded murder of a Palestinian back in 2016 at an illegal Israeli checkpoint in Hebron, a city within the occupied West Bank.
Azaria garnered hero status among many in Israel following the tragedy. Abd al-Fattah Yusri al-Sharif and Ramzi Aziz al-Qasrawi, both 21, were killed by Israeli soldiers the previous year. The Israeli government claimed these young men had stabbed and moderately wounded a soldier in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of Hebron's Old City.
A chilling video showed Azaria casually executing al-Sharif, as the wounded youth lay helpless and totally subdued on the ground. During the trial, Azaria received backing from the highest echelons of Israeli politics, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly advocating for a full pardon.
In February 2017, Azaria was sentenced to a paltry 18 months in prison. If Palestinian lives were truly valued in Israel, Azaria would have faced life imprisonment. Instead, he received a slap on the wrist. Now, Szara stands to serve even less time, with his sentence reduced by military order to 14 months, expect further reductions for good behavior.
This lenience starkly contrasts the lengthy sentence faced by 21-year-old Ahmad Yasser Baraghithi, who received an imprisonment of eight years in 2014, allegedly for throwing stones at Israeli occupation forces during Palestinian demonstrations against occupation.
It's the bravery of the Palestinian who filmed the graphic video of Azaria's savage act that ensured some form of justice. Israeli settlers at the scene can be heard shouting, "the terrorist is still alive," and "the dog is still alive" in the video.
Court testimonies revealed that what Azaria did was common practice by the Israeli army, who frequently execute Palestinians in the West Bank. A long-time civilian security chief for Jewish settlers in Hebron confessed to the court that soldiers in similar incidents shot down Palestinians in cold blood.
Those who filmed the video and shared it with Israeli human rights group B'Tselem have received death threats. Many Palestinians serve longer sentences than Azaria, often for "crimes" as insignificant as speaking out against Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine.
Palestinian poet and photographer Dareen Tatour spent over a year and a half in prison and under house arrest for the "crime" of her poem "Resist, my people, resist them." The poem urged Palestinians to resist Israeli occupation, to "Resist the colonialist's onslaught" and "Pay no mind to his agents among us." Israel has a history of criminalizing such literary expression of the Palestinian liberation struggle.
Young Palestinian Lina Khattab spent nearly as much time in jail as Azaria is likely to now. Her "crime" was dancing at a protest against Israeli occupation, deemed an "illegal demonstration" by Israel. In the occupied West Bank, any demonstration Palestinians organize against occupation is considered unlawful by Israel, parading a veneer of legality for its allies and political supporters internationally.
Israeli military trials are mere sham proceedings with no credibility whatsoever when it comes to Palestinian defendants. Judges and prosecutors in these courts are all Israeli soldiers. We're supposed to believe the propaganda claiming this rigged system will hold the occupation authorities accountable? No.
In the Israeli military courts, there is a staggering 99.7% conviction rate for Palestinians. The convincing evidence underscores the blatant racism ingrained in Israel's system in the occupied West Bank, a system upheld by the US and EU.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of our website.
Revised Enrichment Data:- Background: Elor Azaria, an Israeli solider, was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 for shooting a disarmed Palestinian assailant, Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, in Hebron. Netanyahu advocated for Azaria's pardon.- Sentence: Initially sentenced to 18 months in prison, Azaria's sentence was later reduced due to good behavior. The reasons for sentencing disparities between Azaria and other criminals in similar circumstances are complex, rooted in differences in legal frameworks, public opinion, and political pressures, according to experts.
- The Israeli government's lenience towards Elor Azaria, who executed a Palestinian in cold blood, stands in stark contrast to the longer sentences faced by Palestinians accused of minor offenses.
- After receiving backing from the highest echelons of Israeli politics, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Azaria's sentence for the murder of Abdel Fattah al-Sharif was reduced yet again.
- The United Nations and human rights groups have criticized the Israeli government for its double standards in handling incidents of crime and justice, particularly in the occupied West Bank.
- In a case that garnered international attention, Palestinian poet and photographer Dareen Tatour spent over a year and a half in prison for encouraging resistance against Israeli occupation in her poetry.
- Young Palestinians like Lina Khattab, who spent nearly as much time in jail as Azaria is likely to serve, have been imprisoned for dancing at pro-Palestine protests or speaking out against the occupation.
- Many Palestinians serve longer sentences than Azaria for alleged crimes such as throwing stones at Israeli occupation forces or participating in illegal demonstrations against occupation.
- Those who filmed and shared the graphic video of Azaria's attack have received death threats, highlighting the dangers that Palestinians face for exercising their right to free speech and protest.
- Azaria's trial, like many others in Israeli military courts, is seen as a sham, with a 99.7% conviction rate for Palestinians.
- Critics have pointed out that the Israeli legal system favors soldiers and settlers, while disregarding the lives and rights of Palestinians.
- The Israeli military trial of Elor Azaria is just one example of the systemic racism and discrimination against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
- The reduction of Azaria's sentence, following pressure from the Israeli government and military, is a reminder of the power and influence of politics in the judicial process.
- The public outcry and international condemnation of Azaria's initial sentence may have contributed to his subsequent sentence reduction, highlighting the role played by the news media in shaping public opinion and advocating for justice.
- Amidst calls for accountability, the Israeli government must address the systemic issues within its legal system that allow soldiers like Azaria to receive lenient sentences for crimes against Palestinians.
