Turkish prosecutors seek life sentences for Israeli raid commanders

[Scurrilous]

Turkish prosecutors call for life sentences for four Israeli commanders responsible for the killing of nine activists during the 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, an incident that severely weakened the Turkish-Israeli ties

<snip>

"Turkish prosecutors want life sentences for four Israeli commanders held responsible for the killing of nine activists in a 2010 raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla, Anatolia news agency said Wednesday.
The prosecutors have finalised their investigation into the incident that wrecked relations between once regional allies Turkey and Israel and prepared an indictment to be forwarded to an Istanbul court.

Israeli commandos boarded a Turkish-flagged vessel, the Mavi Marmara, which was the largest ship in a flotilla aimed at breaking the Gaza blockade, on May 31, 2010, leaving nine pro-Palestinian activists dead.

After Israel's refusal to apologise and compensate the victims of the armed assault, Turkey dramatically downgraded its relations with the Jewish state, expelling its ambassador and cutting military ties.

The 144-page indictment called for nine life sentences to be given to each of the four commanders including Israel's former chief of the general staff Gabi Ashkenazi and three ex-commanders for their involvement in the raid, said Anatolia."

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/42516/World/Region/Turkish-prosecutors-seek-life-sentences-for-Israel.aspx

[hack89]

1. Pigs will fly first. nt

[Eugene]

2. Turkey approves indictment of Israeli commanders: report

Source: Reuters

Turkey approves indictment of Israeli commanders: report

By Jonathon Burch

ANKARA | Mon May 28, 2012 3:44pm EDT

(Reuters) - A Turkish court has approved an indictment seeking multiple 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, state media reported on Monday.

The indictment, prepared by Istanbul state prosecutor Mehmet Akif Ekinci, was submitted to the court last week and its approval effectively marks the start of a trial in absentia against the four men.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/28/us-turkey-israel-indictment-idUSBRE84R0N220120528

[holdencaufield]

3. I would LOVE...

... to see the transcripts of that trial.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Oh, I'm sure it was fair

and that all sides were represented accurately and without prejudice.

[Scurrilous]

4. Fear of arrest still prevents Israeli officials from visiting Britain

Despite changes to 'war crimes' law in Britain, Maj. Gen. Doron Almog cancels trip on Jerusalem’s advice.

<snip>

"The Israeli government fears senior state officials and military officers are still at risk of being arrested in Britain for alleged war crimes, despite a legal amendment aimed at precluding such arrests. Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog had recently canceled an appearance at a fundraising dinner in London scheduled for next month at the advice of Jerusalem.

Almog, who was GOC Southern Command in 2000-2003, was almost arrested seven years ago at Heathrow Airport, after a local court issued a warrant for his arrest based on claims made by pro-Palestinian activists.

Almog is a patron of Aleh, a charity NGO that supports severely disabled young Israelis. In September 2005, as he was landing in Britain for fundraising purposes, the Israeli ambassador in London informed him about the arrest warrant for alleged war crimes committed under his command in the Gaza Strip. Almog remained on the plane and flew back to Israel.

After this incident, Jerusalem began pressuring London to amend its universal jurisdiction law, which allows private citizens to obtain arrest warrants for war crimes against foreigners visiting Britain.

Former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary, Maj. Gen. Yohanan Locker, are among the senior Israeli officials who have refrained from visiting Britain because of this law."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/fear-of-arrest-still-prevents-israeli-officials-from-visiting-britain-1.433452

[Scurrilous]

5. Thousands remember victims of Israel raid on Gaza flotilla

<snip>

"Thousands of people rallied in Istanbul Thursday to remember the nine victims of a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla on this date two years ago.

The crowd gathered in iconic Taksim Square under the banner of the pro-Islamic Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), one of the organizers of the flotilla that tried to break an Israeli sea blockade of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory.

The demonstrators, many of them women, chanted slogans and waved banners against Israel, once a strong regional ally of Turkey, and asked that the perpetrators of the raid be held accountable.

The rally came days after an Istanbul court approved an indictment against four Israeli commanders, with prosecutors demanding multiple life sentences for their alleged role in the deadly flotilla raid."

http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/01/217915.html