TOKYO: Japanese and non-Japanese supporting Palestine gathered in front of the Japan National Press Club building in Tokyo on Wednesday in protest at the Israeli foreign minister being allowed to hold a press conference there. 

The protesters said he was “a criminal and a terrorist” and was one of those responsible for the genocide campaign in Gaza.

The approximately 30 activists were surrounded by three times that number of police and security officials who restricted their movements and forced them into a small area when the Israeli foreign minister left the venue.

During the press conference, a demonstrator told Arab News Japan: “Inside the building is an Israeli war criminal terrorist who has been invited to speak by the Japanese government and the Japanese Press Club. We are here to say, ‘You are not welcome here and Palestine will be free whether you like it or not.’ ”

A journalist at the press conference said the Israeli foreign minister repeated the usual Israeli propaganda in his speech at the press club, playing the victim card to draw sympathy from the Japanese media and public.

The demonstrators used megaphones to make sure their message carried into the press club building, shouting slogans such as “Boycott Israel,” “Abolish Israel,” “Kick the minister out of the Japan Press Club,” “Kick Israel out of the Osaka Expo,” “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” and “Zionist racists, you are the terrorists.” 

One demonstrator denounced the Japanese government for not acting against Israel and accused it of double standards for taking a tough stance and imposing sanctions against Russia while maintaining good and very friendly relations with Israel.

Another demonstrator held a Lebanese flag that was backed by the flag of Palestine. She told ANJ she is participating because parts of her country, Lebanon, is occupied by Israel.

The atmosphere was tense as it was one of the rare times demonstrators protested directly against a high-ranking minister visiting Tokyo. One demonstrator was taken into the building while protesting the Japanese government.

When the Israeli minster was due to leave, the protestors became more animated and one shouted through a speaker: “Media representatives, media representatives, he’s coming out now. If you’re going to assess the statements of the foreign minister of Israel, the foreign minister of a war crime state, which side should you be covering? Make sure you cover and report on us who are protesting!”

The minister had to be whisked from the building by a convoy of cars to avoid being blocked by the protestors. Police formed a wall around the exit from the parking lot to let the minister and his entourage leave smoothly.

Japanese media who were filming the press conference covered the demonstration extensively after the end of the conference, a rare occurrence as Japanese media usually don’t pay any attention to such demonstrations.

The protesters held up banners saying, “Arrest Netanyahu the war criminal,” “Stop the genocide that has been continuing by the Zionists for over 70 years,” “How many Palestinian babies have you killed?” and “End the Israeli occupation.”

The Japan National Press Club is in central Tokyo, close to ministries, the parliament building and the prime minister’s office.