JERUSALEM / AA

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday asked President Isaac Herzog to expunge the criminal record of a soldier convicted of killing a Palestinian.

Soldier Elor Azaria was convicted of killing Palestinian Abd al-Fattah al-Sharif at point-blank range in the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank in March 2016.

According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, Katz said in a letter to Herzog: 'Under these circumstances, when Elor has served the full sentence imposed on him, it is difficult to justify the continued harm to his ability to fully integrate into society, work, and earn a living.'

He added: 'Accepting the request does not erase what happened, but expresses the principle of rehabilitation and recognition that after many years it is appropriate to allow him to open a new page and reintegrate as a normal citizen.'

In March 2016, video documentation showed soldier Azaria shooting al-Sharif at point-blank range while he was lying on the ground after being seriously wounded by gunfire, yet a court convicted him of manslaughter.

An Israeli court sentenced Azaria to 18 months in prison, and he was released in early July 2018, where he was welcomed as a hero by the Israeli right.

For his part, the Israeli news site Times of Israel quoted the Israeli president's office as saying that 'Elor Azaria submitted a request to reduce the duration of his criminal record.'

It added that 'according to standard procedures, the request was referred to the defense establishment to solicit the opinions of relevant officials, including the defense minister and the Israeli military.'

It stated that the president's office received Katz's request and said: 'To process the request, the president's office needs the opinions of the Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the Military Advocate General Major General Itai Ofer, and the head of the army's Manpower Directorate Major General Dado Bar Kalifa.'

It added that the president's office 'is awaiting the remaining opinions necessary to proceed with handling the request. After receiving all opinions, the president will consider the request with full responsibility and seriousness.'

However, the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth said that 'Zamir and the head of the army's Manpower Directorate Major General Dado Bar Kalifa oppose expunging the criminal record of Elor Azaria.'

It added that both 'see granting a pardon as an exception, not granted except in exceptional and significant circumstances.'

The Times of Israel had previously mentioned the possibility of Azaria running in the upcoming Israeli general elections on the Likud list.

The site noted that Katz's step 'comes ahead of the Likud primaries and the upcoming national elections.'

The general elections in Israel are scheduled for October 27.