Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Council of Arab Ambassadors in Japan in a communique to ANDO Toshihide, the newly appointed Director General of Foreign Ministry’s Middle East and African Affairs Division, on Thursday expressed disappointment at Japan’s recent positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict and called for a realignment of its position to bring about justice for the people of Gaza.

“We must shed light at how shocked we are regarding Japan’s recent positions and the reputational impact on its image as peace broker within Arab and Asian countries as well as globally,” the message read. “It is crucial to convey the negative impact associated with altering this image.”

In particular, the Arab Ambassadors deplored Japan’s decision to follow the United States and other Western countries in cutting off funds to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after Israel accused staff of the UN agency of helping Hamas attack Israel on October 7.

The Ambassadors message on this was clear: “In its capacity as one of the main and significant donors to the Palestinian humanitarian causes, Japan was expected to have a proactive stance on the UNRWA issue and in international form, and to distance itself from the revenge campaign launched by Israeli Extremist government on UNRWA. We call upon Japan to reconsider its decision to suspend additional funding to UNRWA and to consider further humanitarian assistance.”

“Japan has long-standing position in support of international justice, which led most Arab countries to endorse Japanese national’s nomination to the membership of many international tribunals, including ICJ [International Court of Justice]. Based on Japan’s traditional position, it was expected that Japan will stand up for justice and support South Africa at the ICJ in order to ensure that Israel should be held accountable. It is in the interest of all nations, including Japan, to ensure that the international law is upheld on the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, and it is time to assume responsibility and to act accordingly.”

“Japan, with its unique position in the international community, and according to its responsibilities as non-permanent member in the United Nations Security Council, and its current membership at the Human Rights Council (HRC), is called upon to use its leverage in urgently calling for ceasefire in Gaza, to facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance, and to stopping the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza.”

“Given the current catastrophic situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, Japan is called upon to restore its impartiality in its efforts to alleviate the indiscriminate killing and suffering of the Palestinians by joining the calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and to make the pressure necessary to stop the Israeli planned assault on Rafah.”

In closing, the Council of Arab Ambassadors called on Japan and the international community to heed their “urgent plea for the immediate alleviation of the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to take all necessary actions to end the current crisis and work towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region.”