Online fundraiser for Hebron shooter raises NIS 400,000 within hours

Azaria's family said they started the fundraising campaign due to the difficulties in financing legal fees for their son.

By NOAM AMIR/MAARIV HASHAVUA
Updated: JULY 11, 2016 12:26
The father of Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who is charged with manslaughter after he shot a wounded Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground in Hebron on March 24, kisses his head in a military court (photo credit: REUTERS)
The father of Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who is charged with manslaughter after he shot a wounded Palestinian assailant as he lay on the ground in Hebron on March 24, kisses his head in a military court
(photo credit: REUTERS)
An online crowdfunding campaign to support IDF Sgt. Elor Azaria, who is on trial in the fatal shooting case of a subdued Palestinian attacker, reached NIS 400,000 by Monday morning, some 12 hours after it launched.
Azaria's family said they started the fundraising campaign due to the difficulties in financing legal fees for their son.
"This is the first light I've seen during this whole four-month period," Azaria's father Charlie told The Jerusalem Post's sister publication Ma'ariv. "We have a great nation. G-d didn't chose the Jewish people without reason."
"Ninety percent of the country supports our son, they donate," he added. "Although it's hard to comprehend this situation, as bad as it is, it let me get to know the population in a way I didn't before."
The family began the campaign to raise funds after Azaria's lawyers pressed the family to pay legal fees, which are expected to exceed half a million shekels.
The family, along with journalist and former Knesset member Sharon Gal, decided to turn to social networks, where the soldier accused of manslaughter has received wide-spread support, to request financial aid.
On Monday morning, another witness in the March shooting of Abdel Fatal al-Sharif will come to the stand to testify at the Jaffa Military Court.