The Palestinian Authority has condemned the early release of Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2016 killing of a Palestinian who had already been subdued after attacking two soldiers. Azaria was sentenced to 18 months in prison but received a four-month reduction by order of army chief-of-staff Gadi Eisenkot. Despite the circumstances of the incident, the Palestinians from the start viewed it as an “extrajudicial execution.” On the Israeli side, the nation was divided: one camp viewing it sacrosanct to support the army in a country where all men and women are conscripted at the age of 18; while critics – including senior military officials – viewed it as a rule-of-law issue that superseded even loyalty to the army.