Israel Matzav

Turkish list of flotilla soldiers a sham?

YNet reports that the list of 174 IDF soldiers who were reported by Turkish media on Monday to have participated in the Mavi Marmara takeover is a sham.

The list is headed by former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Navy Commander Eliezer Marom and former Commander of IDF Intelligence Branch Major General Amos Yadlin, but the rest of the names are of soldiers who already completed their military service at the time of the 2010 raid.

Among the 174 names listed, many belong to low-ranking officers and soldiers who had nothing to do with the raid, such as a Golani maintenance officer, a Paratroopers' company command and an Artillery battery commander.

...

The IDF Spokesperson's Office stated in response: "After examining the reports in the Turkish press, it is clear that the names do not belong to soldiers who were involved in the Marmara raid incident, but were rather recycled from previous lists that were published on anti-Israeli websites following Operation Cast Lead.

"The IDF and the relevant governmental offices are closely following these attempts to launch legal proceedings against those who acted on behalf of the State of Israel as part of its war on terror, and are taking the necessary steps," the statement said.

Military officials noted that the report is part of a psychological warfare conducted by the Turks, following Israel's refusal to apologize over the flotilla raid and in wake of the Palmer Report, which recognized the legality of the naval blockade on Gaza.

Well, yes, but here's the problem: If your name is on the list, you had nothing to do with the Mavi Marmara, you travel to European country x, and Turkey finds out and asks x to arrest you, what will happen? I'd think about asking the IDF to issue me a new identity if I wanted to travel.

Labels: Mavi Marmara, Turkish obsession with Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:03 PM