In response to a Turkish court's decision this week to indict four Israeli military officers for involvement in the 2010 raid on Gaza-bound flotilla, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel would not resort to "counter-provocations" against Turkish Prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan due to concern for regional stability. "Israel will continue to act responsibly, and, out of concern for peace and stability in the Middle East, will not allow itself to be dragged into counter-provocations against [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan," Lieberman said during a meeting in Jerusalem with German President Joachim Gauck. "However, Israels primary concern is to maintain its sovereignty and to protect its citizens and the soldiers who protect them. The high criminal court in Istanbul on Monday unanimously approved a series of indictments seeking multiple life sentences for former Israel Defense Forces Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi and three other former army commanders over their alleged involvement in the May 2010 raid on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara ship during which nine Turkish citizens were killed. The approval of the indictments effectively marks the launch of a trial in absentia against the four men. The indictment accuses Ashkenazi, former Israel Navy Commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer "Cheney" Marom, former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin and former Air Force intelligence head Brig. Gen. Avishai Levy of initiating premeditated murders. They face nine consecutive life terms in prison for "inciting to kill monstrously, and by torturing," the Turkish state-run news agency reported. The indictments seek up to 18,000 years in prison for the defendants. The charges also include commandeering vehicles, voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder, persecution and causing damage to the ship, the news agency reported. During his meeting with Gauck on Tuesday, Lieberman criticized the Turkish prosecution's decision and expressed hope that "European nations will put Turkey back on track and prevent the rampage by a NATO member state that has lost its direction and whose actions are contrary to all accepted international rules of conduct." If the Israeli officers are convicted in absentia at the end of the trial process, which could take months if not years, the Turkish court could issue a warrant for their arrest, but such a move would be symbolic and not binding. Currently, the indictment includes only the four senior military officers, but according to reports in Turkey, the prosecutor could decide to bring additional charges against Israel's Flotilla 13 naval commandos who raided the Mavi Marmara ship. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the indictments on Tuesday, promising Israeli fighters and commanders that "the State of Israel will always stand by your side wherever you are and in every situation. You protected us and we will protect you. That is an important rule, and I know all the citizens of the State of Israel support this." Former Israel Defense Forces chief Ashkenazi, one of the officers included in the Turkish indictment, told Channel 2 News on Tuesday that, "We cannot allow the entry of ships into Gaza without supervision, and in the [Mavi Marmara] case, the soldiers acted appropriately and put their lives at risk. If the price of acting responsibly is not being able to travel to Turkey, I am willing to pay that price."
