Soldier who shot neutralized terrorist begins prison sentence August 9, 2017Elor Azaria is surrounded by supporters outside prison. (Eitan Elhadez/TPS)(Eitan Elhadez/TPS)Soldier who shot neutralized terrorist begins prison sentenceSurrounded by several dozens of supporters who say he’s a hero, Elor Azaria began his prison sentence Wednesday.Elor Azaria, the former IDF soldier convicted of manslaughter for the killing of a neutralized terrorist in Hebron last year, arrived Wednesday at Prison Number 4 at Tzrifin, near his home in Ramla, to begin his 18-month prison sentence.Several dozen supporters waited for Azaria’s arrival outside the prison gate to escort his car into the compound, chanting, “We love you” and “He’s a hero.” Tuesday night, supporters gathered at the Azaria family home for a farewell party that included music and balloons.Earlier Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Doron Piles, chief justice of the IDF court of appeals, rejected Azaria’s request to delay beginning his sentence pending a decision by Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot on Azaria’s request for pardon. Last week, the court rejected his appeal as well as a prosecution request to stiffen the sentence handed down by the court in February.Azaria has defended the killing, saying he believed the terrorist was planning to detonate an explosive belt. “If I knew then what I know now, I never would have shot him,” Azaria told the chief of staff in his request for clemency.Eisenkot cannot respond to the request until September 7, when the ruling becomes final.Read CAPTURED: Terrorists plot to kidnap soldiers and hide them in Jericho pitsBy: TPS Elor AzariaHevronPalestinian terror