Battalion commander: ‘I suspected Azariya was lying’
July 12, 2016Lieutenant Colonel David Shapira, the former commander of Elor Azariya’s battalion, took the stand on Tuesday morning.
Azariya is on trial for manslaughter after he killed a neutralized terrorist.
Shapira claimed that he noticed signs of distress and pressure in Azariya well before the recent incident. “Elor’s father called me and told me that ‘Elor’s smile had left his face.’ From what I understood it was due to the pressure from being the company medic and the radio operator.”
He further said the company commander told him that Azariya did not shoot the terrorist because he felt a threat. “From what Tom the company commander described to me, he asked Elor why he fired, and he answered – he’s a terrorist, he needs to die.”
However, Azariya told the Lieutenant Colonel a different story. “An hour and a half later I spoke with him. He told me that he shot because he saw the terrorist move near a knife. I asked him why he didn’t kick the knife away and he said that he felt in danger.”
Shapira explained that he immediately told Azariya that he had little confidence in the latest version, and that he suspected it was a lie. He says that Azariya didn’t respond to the accusation.
He further stated that, Azariya brought up his concern over the proximity between the terrorist and the knife during the same conversation, but never mentioned the possibility of an explosive on the terrorist’s body. Shapira even clarified that no one present expressed concern over a possible explosive, and that he passed next to the terrorist several times without fear.
Shapira, a former company commander in the Paratroopers, famously stopped the terror attack at the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva in 2008.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
