Israel Matzav

'If the price of what I did is not being able to visit Turkey - I am willing to pay that price'

A Turkish high criminal court on Monday accepted indictments against four former senior IDF officers in connection with the Mavi Marmara incident in May 2010.

A Turkish high criminal court has unanimously accepted an indictment seeking life sentences for four former Israeli military commanders over their alleged involvement in the 2010 killing of nine Turks on a Gaza-bound aid ship, Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman and the Andalou Agency reported Monday.

The indictment seeks nine counts of aggravated life imprisonment for former IDF chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi, OC Israel Navy V.-Adm. Eliezer Marom, former Military Intelligence head Amos Yadlin and former IAF intelligence head Brig.-Gen. Avishai Levy.

Former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi responded.

Former IDF chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi said Monday that he hoped common sense would prevail, in response to reports that a Turkish high criminal court had unanimously accepted an indictment seeking life sentences for him and three others over the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid. He also expressed hope that Turkey would reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel.

...

"From the beginning of the affair, I appeared before every forum, sometimes on my own, to defend IDF soldiers who performed their job out in the field on behalf of Israel," Ashkenazi said. "If the price of what I did is not being able to visit Turkey - I am willing to pay that price."

Last week, in response to the prospect of indictments, Israel issued some veiled threats against the Turks.

Diplomatic sources stressed Wednesday that no official information had been received about an announcement by Turkey that it planned to indict former IDF commanders over the Marmara affair, but said "If it's true, this won't bring us to a good place. We will need to weigh our steps."

"We also have ways to bother them in the international arena. If this is the path they want, we also know what to do. They have plenty of Achilles' heels. We don't want escalation, but if this is the game – we'll play," the sources said.

Let's roll!

Labels: Gabi Ashkenazi, Mavi Marmara, Turkish obsession with Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:29 AM