On the current situation in Israel and Palestine Territories
(Statement by the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary)
Embassy of Japan
March 3, 2008
On March 3, Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary issued the following statement on the current situation in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
1. The Government of Japan is deeply concerned over the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and the southern part of Israel. Japan strongly deplores the fact that the Israeli and Palestinian civilians including children are falling victim to the violence, and expresses its deepest condolences to their bereaved families.
2. The Government of Japan strongly condemns both the rocket attacks by the Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip and the shedding blood of civilians by the Israeli Defense Forces. The Government of Japan calls on the Palestinian militants to immediately halt the rocket attacks, and on the Israeli government to exercise its utmost self-restraint to avoid any other damage on civilians including children as well as further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
3. As the Government of Japan intends to continue supporting, to the greatest extent possible, the efforts towards the promotion of the Middle East Peace Process, the Government of Japan urges both the Israeli and the Palestinian sides to refrain from taking any measure which will deteriorate the situation and to continue the peace negotiations in order to advance the peace process.
[Related links]
* Middle East Peace Process (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/peaceprocess/support/index.html
* Japan-Israel Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/israel/index.html
* Japan-Palestine Authorities Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/palestine/index.html
* Joint Statement on Deepening Relations between Japan and Israel (Embassy of Japan’s website)
http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/pressreleases/2008/0227.htm
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