Probe: Erdogan knew Gaza flotilla would be violent
Files found on activists' laptops pointed to strong ties between the Islamist IHH movement and Turkey's prime minister.
By Anshel Pfeffer Tags: Israel news Gaza flotilla Middle East peace Turkey Recep Tayyip ErdoganTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan knew in advance that activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla planned to attack Israeli troops, Israeli intelligence officials have said.
 |
Activists hold down an Israeli commando on the Gaza-bound ship Mavi Marmara, May 31 2010 |
| Photo by: Reuters |
In a report published this week, a group of independent investigators from Israel's intelligence community found that activists aboard the 'Mavi Marmara' were part of an organized group that was prepared for a violent conflict.
Last week Israeli commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists when they boarded the Turkish-owned boat, part of a six-ship convoy trying to break Israel's maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip
The report, published by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (known in Israel by its Hebrew acronym Malam), said activists who attacked commandos with clubs and knives were supported by the Turkish government.
Malam is a privately run but is widely seen as an unofficial branch of Israel's intelligence community and has in the past been a medium for passing Israel's intelligence findings to the public.
The report said while most of the Mavi Marmara's 500 passengers were humanitarian volunteers who underwent security checks before boarding the ship at Antalya in Turkey, a group of 40 IHH activists had boarded the ship in an Istanbul port beforehand, keeping apart from the rest of the passengers throughout the journey.
This hard core of activists boarded the ship without checks and was equipped with communications equipment, flack jackets embroidered with Turkish flags, and gas masks, Malam said.
According to the report, the group turned the upper deck into its headquarters, blocking it off to other passengers. It had a clear internal hierarchy, with specific activists nominated as commanders.
Bülent Yıldırım, the leader of the IHH, an Islamic organization that planned the voyage, was on the Mavi Marmara and briefed group members about two hours before the Israeli Navy intercepted the ship. Their main objective was to hold back soldiers by any means, and to push them back into the sea.
As they had been banned from bringing wepaons aboard, IHH members improvised weapons including metal rods and knives cut from the ship's metal rails, which they used to attack the soldiers.
According to a witness aboard the ship, a confrontation broke out when the ship's crew heard IHH members sawing the railing into metal rods, but they were unable to confiscate them from them.
IHH activists also gathered all the knives from six cafeterias on the ship, as well as axes from fire extinguishers on the deck, all of which served as weapons against Israeli commandos .
Before the takeover, IHH ordered all other passengers into the hold of the ship and told them to remain there. Only journalists and security personnel were allowed access to the deck.
Video footage matched testimonies from passengers who claimed they witnessed any violence, as they were denied access to the deck, where the clash occurred.
The testimonies are also similar to the version given by the Navy commandos who said that they fought with a group of approximately 50 people who used every weapon available to attack them.
Eight of the nine dead were identified as IHH members.
Files found on laptops owned by the IHH members pointed at strong ties between the movement and Turkey's prime minister. Some of the activists even said that Erdogan was personally involved in the flotilla's preparations.
They also said that they knew in advance that their chances of making it into Gaza were slim, but their initial goal was to "to expose Israel's true face to the world."
An IHH journalist said during his investigation with Israeli security forces that "the Turks set a trap for you and you fell straight into it." He also said that the recent flotilla was the first in many.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
..that I see it is: There were 5 ships loaded with useful idiots and some supplies, obviously not needed in Gaza. The siege of them went peacefully. In addition, there was the 6th ship, which was loaded with useful idiots + uncertain number of paid mercenaries that were there to cause trouble, which they did big time. They were supported, maybe even paid by Turkish government. Israel's blockade of Gaza is causing problems to the people of Gaza, but tell me, how can Israel prevent from having another few thousand rockets in the south, if blockade is lifted. And all this pissnicks never think that you always need two to tango.
"a group of independent investigators from Israel's intelligence community" hahhhhaaa
That is why Turkey will never understand the rule of law- not internally and not on international scene. One face for EU another one for Iran ( an ugly one). Sell them more military goods so that they can pass them to Iran...
How do you say "hypocrite" in Turkish? Erdogan!
obviously some in this forum might not like what an inquiry will show. even turkish media and members of parliement start wondering (see huryiet, largest news paper in Turkey) what was all this about...
So we're supposed to believe these Turks went out to violently confront armed troops with kitchen knives? Do we need to apply for the Israeli nationality in order to be able to believe it?
that's what the pictures say, plus axes, pipes ,batons. the usual weapons of street thugs.
why should anybody believe anything in this story when there is not a shred of evidence to back it up? And who is this unnamed "officer" quoted in the story? a ship's officer on the Mavi? an IDF officer?
ready to use violence decreases everyday. It was one hundred yesterday. Obviously that particular story didn't gain sufficient traction to counter the protestors the world are seeing on their televisions, who appear naive but decent people. Hence the latest story out of Israel, this time using a 'private' intelligence agency in an effort to seperate the Israeli government from the story. Increasingly desperate tactics, and with the passing of sanctions against Iran just passed proobably won't gain any traction either. Hence Netanyahu statements today preparing the Israeli public for an independent enquiry to the events last Monday, Netanyahu has been unable to seperate international calls for such an enquiry.
"decent and naive people"? Are we looking at the same picture? The man with the knife in the picture above looks everything except naive and decent. It's too bad that your agenda is blinding your eyesight.
It was not 100 yesterday. Every report on this put the number at about 50. And the other witnesses do confirm they ere down in the hold. Then there are the videos, and the physical evidence.
Bibi is right in calling for the international review panel so incensed on investigating the IDF to also seriously investigate the armed thugs on board (and their sponsors back in the safety of Turkey) for forcing the real peace activists below deck, yet using them as human shields during their violent confrontation, as they knew that Israel wouldn't sink the ship. The real con people are the organizers of this event and perhaps even Erdogan himself as he basks in the shady limelight of being some sort of hero flavor of the month for the Palestinian cause. I wonder how boisterous Erdogan will continue to be if a serious inquiry panel actually requests to investigate the IHH and to also interrogate him back in Turkey about their roles in this incident.
Should have never been released. It was a big mistake from the Israel Gov. They shold have faced jail time in Israel.
"A private body of Israel's intelligence officials"? Wow! Obviously a trustworthy source .
A Norwegian against Israel! Wow! Why am I not surprised?
This is why you need an international committee to investigate this matter. no matter how much they say, if they were still in a tie with israel it would look like it is not reliable. This article look like a fantasy of a people who want to run away from their guilt and without any evidence...how can people trust it? Need a fair investigation. Fair international investigation.
there is no intyernational body that does not have a current bioas against ISrael. The Un is a non starter given the goldstone mandate . Who would investigate? Do tell anyone but the UN
This is why you need an international committee to investigate this matter. no matter how much they say, if they were still in a tie with israel it would look like it is not reliable. This article look like a fantasy of a people who want to run away from their guilt and without any evidence...how can people trust it? Need a fair investigation. Fair international investigation.
Finally, the truth is told.
That the tragic results of the forceful takeover of the ships should have been anticipated, is clear. If you let a few commandos slide down ropes into a small ship loaded with 600 passengers, there would be two possibilities: 1. The one I anticipated, which is that the passengers surround the attackers and throw them overboard, or 2. The attackers pull out weapons and then all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately, the brainless Godzilla decided to take over the ships by whatever force was necessary. An alternative method should have been used from the very beginning of such siege-busting flotillas. (I am opposed to the siege, but once this is the Israeli policy, a wiser enforcement should be used.) IDF commandos could have disabled the motors or propellors of a few ships either in port or while moving at sea. Alternatively, Israel could have let the ships pass, then come at night and disable them in the Gaza shore. The result would have been that the 700 pilgrims would have been stuck in Gaza for weeks, and Israel could have allowed them out slowly, and after the payment of fines. This would have served as a discouragement for others to repeat the exercise. Unfortunately, the IDF has grown into a Godzilla, with brute force as its sole means.
" forceful takeover of the ships should have been anticipated, is clear. If you let a few commandos slide down ropes into a small ship loaded with 600 passengers, there would be two possibilities" If 5 of 6 boats were boarded without complication then your point makes no sense as it is more reasonable to assume that the boats should not have made a violent resistance. MAVI WITH ITS VIOLENCE WAS THE MINORITY OF BOATS PEACEFUL BOARDING IS WHAT HAPPENED ON THTE MAJORITY. You have Omitted the scenario that did occur and occurred the majority ofthe time. THAT THE PROTESTORS DO NOT ACT THE SOLDIERS. Why do you Omit this FACT???? It is one of the Most Important Facts and it dismissess your point as your point does not even consider that this could have happened