Reuters

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli soldier who shot dead a wounded and incapacitated Palestinian assailant in the occupied West Bank was convicted of manslaughter on Wednesday in one of the most divisive trials in Israel's history.

Hundreds of far-right protesters rallied in support of Sergeant Elor Azaria along a busy Tel Aviv street and some clashed with police outside an army base where the lengthy verdict was read out.

Despite a campaign by Azaria's family and rightist politicians criticising the armed forces for putting him on trial at a time of Palestinian street attacks, members of Israel's military establishment argued that shooting in violation of regulations could not be countenanced.

A three-judge military court rejected the 20-year-old conscript's arguments that he acted in self-defence.