Though Israel has refrained from issuing an official response to
indictments, sources within the foreign ministry say move reflects
tailspin in relations between Ankara and Jerusalem.


By
Barak Ravid




May.28, 2012
9:15 PM



4

Israel did not respond officially to the submission of a Turkish indictment against four former top IDF officers,
yet a foreign ministry official stated anonymously on Monday that the
indictment reflects a tailspin in relations between Ankara and
Jerusalem. "Erdogan is systematically killing relations between the two
states," the official said.


The court in Istanbul voted unanimously to approve an indictment
against Israel's former military chief Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, along
with the former heads of its navy, air force intelligence, and military
intelligence, Eliezer Marom, Amos Yadlin, and Avishai Levi, the Anadolu
Agency said. They face nine consecutive life terms in prison for
"inciting to kill monstrously, and by torturing," according to Turkey's
state-run news agency.


Former Chief of Staff Ashkenazi released a response saying that "Turkey
is an important state, and it shares with Israel a common interest in
stability in the Middle East, and I am sure that in the end common sense
will prevail." Ashkenazi added that "from the start of this affair I
chose to appear in every forum, and defend IDF soldiers and the IDF
itself; the soldiers and the army carried out its mission in the field,
for the benefit of the state."


Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said he thinks that heavy
international pressure will be exerted on Turkey, calling on it to
scuttle this indictment. "We view this as a grave development," he said.
"Things have lost all proportion."


It is unlikely Israeli military members will be brought before Turkey's
judicial system, since Israel does not regard them as criminals. If
they are convicted in absentia at the end of the trial process, which
could take months if not years, the Turkish court could issue an order
for their arrest, but such a move would be symbolic and not binding.


According to Turkish news agencies, nine life sentences were demanded -
one for each of the casualties aboard the Mavi Marmara – as part of the
indictment, which calls for a combined 18,000 years of imprisonment for
the four former officers, punishment for crimes committed during the
raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla. The indictment includes 490 victims and
complainants, among them 189 were injured during the raid.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-official-turkey-killing-relations-with-israel-over-gaza-flotilla-charges-1.433024