Thousands of Israelis call for social unity after soldier conviction

Jerusalem, Jan 7 (EFE) .- Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to call for unity in society, divided by the murder conviction of soldier Elor Azaria, who fired a shot at the head of a Palestinian who was injured on the ground After attacking another military man in March in Hebron.

Yitzhak Rabin Square was the scene of a demonstration that brought together about 3,000 people, according to police, who were summoned by an army captain, Ziv Shilon, wounded in 2012 near the Gaza border, the Haaretz newspaper reported.

"I feel that our people are divided in pain, hate, disappointment and despair," the captain wrote in his Facebook page, in which he announced his intention to appear in the square "with a great sign of solidarity and reciprocal love". To unite Israelis from the entire social and political spectrum to "embrace the country."

Attending the demonstration were a number of deputies from the Knesset, including Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid, leaders of the Zionist Union platform, Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni, and Yehuda Glick of Likud.

On the other hand, members of the Jewish ultranationalist Lehava organization arrived in the square to hold a counter-demonstration and ask for the freedom of Azaria.

This case has raised a great deal of controversy since its inception in March when a video was released in which the soldier was seen firing into the head of Palestinian 20-year-old Abdel Fatah Al-Sherif when he presented no apparent danger, as if he supported the conviction , Who argued that the young man squeezed the trigger "for no reason."

So the Israeli society was divided between those who defend the attitude of the soldier against what they consider the Palestinian enemy and those who think that what he did was immoral and contrary to the military code, which allows to shoot to kill only when there is a serious risk to Life or integrity.

But since this week the conviction of the military court, which will soon dictate his sentence, tensions soared and the magistrates themselves sought protection after receiving threats.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in favor of apologizing to Azaria, as did other members of his cabinet, but also called for respect for those who backed the conviction, such as Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot.

The latter was harshly criticized for seeking respect before the verdict and arguing that it is necessary to uphold the principles and values ​​of the army.