Israeli Judges Face Death Threats over Killer Soldier Verdict

The mother (C) of Palestinian assailant Abdel Fattah Sharif holds his poster during a protest in the West Bank city of Hebron Jan. 4, 2017. | Photo: Reuters

Israel has arrested two people for threatening judges as tensions rise in the country after a military court convicted a French-Israeli soldier of manslaughter for his March 2016 killing of a 21-year-old Palestinian assailant.

The far-right, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are calling for 20-year-old Sgt. Elor Azaria to be pardoned, after he was found guilty Wednesday.

Israeli police arrested two people in Jerusalem and Kiryat Gat for their incitement of violence online, which included death threats against the three-judge panel that handed down the verdict. Following the threats, the judges were assigned bodyguards.

"Police units are continuing to monitor social media and respond to threats and incitement to violence connected to the Azaria court decision," a statement said.

The case became iconic after the video of the shooting went viral online. It depicted Abdul Fatah Sharif lying on the ground, bleeding after being shot along with another man after stabbing and moderately wounding an Israeli soldier minutes earlier. Azaria can then be seen fatally shooting Sharif for no apparent reason, as he was already immobilized.

The judges ruled there was no reason for Azaria to open fire since the Palestinian was posing no threat and argued that the soldier shot Sharif out of revenge, not in self-defense.

Azaria now faces up to 20 years in prison. His sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 15.

A poll by the government-supporting newspaper Israel Hayom found that around 70 percent of Israelis favor a pardon for Azaria.

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