When applying the strict letter of the law in the Azariya case the judges may have been correct according to their worldview. The problem is that the law being applied was not Jewish law, but a conglomeration of common (British), civil law and remnants of Ottoman law. Religious law applicable in the family courts to Jews and Muslims in Israel had no bearing on this case.
The Azariya case, unlike similar cases in the past, was brought to the world stage on the basis of Israel caring about what the world thinks. The IDF is a moral army, so the decision-makers at the top were keen to show off how moral we are. The reality is that the world does not give a damn, unless it is to the detriment of Israel. From one end of the globe to the other anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head in the form of pro-Palestinian actions and statements. The end result of the Azariya case was the opposite of what was intended: an opportunity for Israel haters in particular Al Jazeera, to spotlight the negatives of the case.
In the past few days alone the Australian Labour Party voted for a Palestinian Arab State, based not on their convictions but on the number of Muslims in their voting areas. The tide has turned against the Jews and Israel everywhere with blame and anti-Semitic incidents occurring daily. The world bends over backwards to pacify and encourage supporters of the anti-Jewish/Israel agenda really believing that this will quiet down the flames of the current war of civilizations.
The end result of the Azariya case was the opposite of what was intended: an opportunity for Israel haters in particular Al Jazeera, to spotlight the negatives of the case.
That is what the world thinks.
There are moves afoot to include Jewish law that should be applied in courts of Israel. When this happens matters such as the Azariya case would not get to first base. The Chief Sephardi Rabbi spoke a few days ago to clarify Jewish law in dealing with murderous terrorists. He declared our Jewish laws loudly, fearlessly and publicly, rising above the opinions of Supreme Court and above the dictates of the military judges in the Azariya case.
Unfortunately the only language that the world understands and respects is strength. Young soldiers would do better to heed Jewish law when terrorists come to kill us, rather than having doubts when dealing with these situations. Middle Israel is sticking by Azariya, saying overwhelmingly that he did the right thing. The trail of those in control at the top who dared to bring this matter to the military court is reminiscent of the treatment that immigrants from Arab countries received for years. The results of this will be in at the next elections.
Enemies of Israel should understand that, despite this trial, the State of Israel now has gained learning experience. It now knows that other countries do not care that the IDF is the most moral army in the world. In fact, they will pick at any incident to reinterpret it in the worst way possible. Hopefully, the talk on the ground amongst our young soldiers is to shoot to kill when confronted with terrorists, the world be damned - and not what is being called "The Azariya Effect" paralyzing their willingness to shoot to kill lest they, too, are brought to trial for doing their duty..
Following foreign laws rather than our own is lunacy, whilst pandering to world opinion is not diplomacy, it is sheer madness. When a tortoise sheds its shell it is still a tortoise. We are a Jewish State and not just another country like all of the countries in the world.
The time has come for us to remember who we are and live according to our own laws.