Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman
Defense Minister Avigdor LibermanJames Akena/REUTERS

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman today, Sunday, sent President Reuven Rivlin his recommendation that the pardon request submitted by soldier Elor Azariya be granted.

In his letter to the President, the Defense Minister writes: "Mr. President, there are few situations in which the issue of a single person becomes a mirror of Israeli society in its entirety , as does the case before us.Israeli society withstood a test that demonstrated, in this case, more than any event in recent years, the rifts and divisions within it," he said.

"I was one of the many who believed that in light of the circumstances, there was no place for a criminal prosecution of the soldier, but when he stood trial, and when the court handed down its ruling, I stood by the military justice system and despite the harsh criticism leveled at me and my declaration that we live in in a state of law and that decisions of the military court must be respected," he added.

"Elor and his family paid a heavy personal and family price in living through Elor's trial and the unprecedented public exposure, which exacted a heavy cost to their health.

"I believe that this unique case should also be considered in the public interest, the need to heal the rifts in society and the impact of the incident and the trial on the citizens of the state and IDF soldiers who face the enemy.We send our daughters and sons as fighters to defend the security of the state and public safety, placing them in complex situations unlike any others in the world, demanding that they act courageously, resolutely, professionally, and morally.I believe that Elor Azaria's amnesty will not detract from these demands and will properly balance the great importance of rule of law with the public and personal considerations that are relevant to the matter.

"In view of all this, and also in light of our being a few months away from the State of Israel's 70th Independence Day, I believe that this affair, which shook Israeli society, should be put to an end and the soldier and his family treated with kindness and mercy, by responding favorably to the request for a pardon by Elor Azariya," Liberman signed his recommendation.