Israel Matzav

Turkey operated intelligence agents in Israel

In an earlier post, I reported that the Turkish newspaper Sabah published the names and photographs of 174 IDF soldiers and officers - and government decision makers all the way up to Prime Minister Netanyahu - who were allegedly involved with the Mavi Marmara incident. It was alleged that the soldiers were identified using Facebook and Twitter.

A new report indicates that Turkish intelligence operatives in Israel confirmed the identities of the IDF soldiers.

The Turkish government is denying the report. Turkish intelligence officials have submitted to the state prosecution a list of 174 Israelis, mostly soldiers, who were involved in the 2010 raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship, the Turkish newspaper Sabah reported Monday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tops the list as the "primary responsible party."

Turkish newspaper Zaman went a step further and reported on its website that Ankara had also operated intelligence agents inside Israel to confirm the soldiers' identities.

The Turkish government denies ever asking its National Intelligence Organization (MIT) to confirm the identities of Israeli commandos involved in the raid. Istanbul's deputy prosecutor said that a lawyer for the IHH submitted a list of soldiers' names to his office and said it will be examined.

Israel ought to warn all the soldiers on the list (who probably know already) not to travel to Turkey. It should also refuse to cooperate with the Turkish authorities.

And if the stories about the intelligence agency turn out to be true, it ought to expel every last Turk who works in the embassy down to the maids and shut the embassy down. Enough is enough.

Labels: Facebook, IHH, Mavi Marmara, Turkish obsession with Israel, Twitter

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:25 PM