Former commander of the IDF's Gaza division, Brig. Gen. (res.) Shmuel Zakai testified Tuesday in the manslaughter trial of Sgt. Elor Azaria, saying that the soldier, who shot an incapacitated terrorist in Hebron in the head, acted rationally and did not shoot to kill. "That is not how a person who wants to kill shoots," Zakai said. He stated that Azaria's gunfire was legitimate and had the aim of eliminating a threat, from the soldier's point of view. Zakai added that in viewing a video of the incident, it appeared that Azaria's decision was "reasoned and level-headed." He cited the fact that Azaria fired only one bullet as support for the idea that his motive was simply to neutralize the threat posed by the terrorist, who Azaria has said he feared was hiding an explosive belt underneath his clothing. Zakai added that soldiers were deployed to secure the scene at the time, pointing to legitimate concern over the possibility that the terrorists were booby-trapped. Still, Zakai made a point to shut down personal attacks on the prosecutor in the case, who he said "is an officer faithfully fulfilling his duties, and there is no room here to attack him or the court." Following Zakai, the prosecution had psychiatrist Dr. Mark Weiser take the stand. Weiser examined Azaria after the incident. Azaria told the doctor at the time that he did not trust him as he was cooperating with the prosecution, and, the soldier believed, would try to have him convicted at any cost. Weiser stated that he had no interest in seeing Azaria convicted. He also said that he did not believe Azaria was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Justice Maya Heller, who is presiding over the trial, reprimanded Weiser when, during his testimony, he compared Azaria to a young girl in high school. Azaria's lawyers, Eyal Besserglick and Ilan Katz, later released a statement saying, "Brig. Gen. Zakai's testimony is the final nail [in the coffin] in the prosecution's theory, according to which the gunfire was not justified."
X
שיתוף כתבה
Ex-Gaza division commander: Hebron soldier did not shoot to kill
"That is not how a person who wants to kill shoots," says Brig. Gen. (res.) Shmuel Zakai of Sgt. Elor Azaria • He says the fact that soldiers were told to secure the scene points to fear of further attacks • Zakai says prosecutor, court deserve respect.