Israeli Commanders On Trial: Clear Evidence Shows Cold-blooded Murder
28 February 2013
By Stephen Lendman
A previous article said Israel's rap sheet makes
serial killers look saintly by comparison. It's no
exaggeration. Decades of crimes of war, against
humanity and genocide explain.
Accountability so far is wishful thinking. Hope
springs eternal. In May 2012, Turkey issued arrest
warrants. Four former senior IDF officers were named.
They include Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, military
intelligence head Amos Yadlin, naval commander Eliezer
Marom, and air force intelligence head Avishai Levi.
They're accused of ordering the May 31, 2010 Mavi
Marmara massacre. Israeli commandos attacked the
vessel preemptively. They did so in international
waters.
Nine Turkish nationals were assassinated. Dozens more
were injured. Everyone on board was terrorized. Israel
planned it that way.
High crimes were committed. A 144-page indictment said
so. They were premeditated. They were against unarmed,
nonviolent activists. They were delivering vital
humanitarian aid to besieged Gazans.
Turkish/Israeli relations became strained. Ankara
demanded an apology and compensation for families of
victims.
Israel never says it's sorry. It refused and
stonewalled. Rogue states operate that way. Turkey's
trial is largely symbolic. Proceedings began last
November.
Accused Israelis didn't attend. No one expected them
to. Entering Turkish territory subjects them to
arrest.
Istanbul Prosecutor Mehmet Akif Ekinci seeks 10
consecutive life sentences. It's for nine deaths plus
another victim in coma.
Charges include voluntary manslaughter, attempted
voluntary manslaughter, intentional injury, incitement
to assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, abduction or
confiscation of maritime vessels, property damage,
false arrest, and mistreatment of prisoners.
Hundreds of complainants were invited to testify.
Conclusions from an internal Turkish investigation
accused Israel of "banditry," "piracy," and
"state-sponsored terrorism."
Israel is guilty as charged. Clear evidence proves it.
More on that below.
On February 21, the Jerusalem Post headlined "Turkey
resumes Gaza flotilla trial for four ex-IDF heads,"
saying:
Israel dismisses proceedings as politically motivated.
An unnamed legal official called it a "show trial."
Last year's proceedings focused on murder charges.
Current ones address mistreatment, sexual harassment,
property theft, and violations of press freedom.
Citizens of 37 countries are involved. Hundreds demand
justice.
On February 26, Mondoweiss contributor James Marc Leas
headlined "Years of impunity for Israeli leaders may
draw to a close in Turkish flotilla trial."
Uneditied raw video is damning. It's authentic. It
points fingers the right way. Videographer Iara Lee
took it. It provides over an hour of
"minute-by-minute" documented evidence.
It "shows Israeli soldiers firing weapons at the ship
at least 5 minutes and 30 seconds before other Israeli
soldiers are seen rappelling down to the ship from a
helicopter."
In other words, it was premeditated. It's well before
anyone on board had time to react.
Israeli officials lied. They claimed boarding
commandos acted in self-defense.
They initiated attacks guns blazing. They singled out
targeted victims. They murdered them in cold blood.
They did so at point blank range.
Footage showed in court "was formally released at a"
UN June 10, 2010 press conference.
Gunfire began at "36:08 on the film."
"(I)t appears to be coming from an Israeli Zodiac
boat. (It was) alongside the" Mavi Marmara.
"The first explosive device is at 36:13."
Over the next few minutes, gunfire and explosions are
heard.
At 36:39, closeups show Israeli soldiers on the Zodiac
firing at unarmed civilians.
Video "shows flashes from guns and an Israeli soldier
with a rifle aimed up at the ship."
From 36:08 - 37:17, lots of firing and explosions are
heard.
At 37:40, the first helicopter sound is heard.
At 38:24, "red dripping on the walls is seen, and
someone keeps saying blood."
At 39:12, "(s)omeone else says "I think they are using
paintball looking stuff. It is not live ammunition."
From 39:40 - 40:15, audible helicopter sound gets
louder. At 40:28, it's visible.
At 41:58, six or seven commandos "are seen rappelling
down along two different ropes…."
At 42:29, the helicopter lifts away. At 42:40,
passenger noise level rises.
At 42:49, 43:18, and 43: 35, gunfire is heard. At
43:29, wounded are seen carried away.
"At 44:18, Kevin, an American, shows a booklet
obtained from one of the Israeli soldiers…."
It shows pictures of activists on board Israel wanted
to kill. They knew in advance who to target.
"(F)ootage shows Israeli soldiers firing weapons and
shooting explosive devices beginning at least 5
minutes and 30 seconds before other Israeli soldiers
came rappelling down their rope from (their)
helicopter."
These facts contradict Israel's self-defense claim. It
doesn't wash. Clear evidence proves otherwise. So do
numerous victim testimonies.
"Israeli government forces seized electronic devices,
including cameras, computers, cell phones, and memory
cards…."
Israeli released footage was fake. It was staged. It
doesn't wash. It was filmed in advance on a Mavi
Marmara replica. It showed passengers attacking
soldiers.
Clear evidence shows Israeli commandos committed
cold-blooded murder. If Turkish authorities are
serious, they'll find IDF commanders guilty of high
crimes. Doing so will set a precedent. It's high time
that happened.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit his
blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour.
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