Arab News Japan

Tokyo:  The Japanese government “deplored deeply” the continued Israeli settlement activities and called on Israel to completely halt such activities.

An official statement issued by the foreign ministry in Tokyo said such settlement activities by Israel are in violation of the international law that are ignoring repeated calls from the international community including Japan for freeze of such activities.

The statement was referring to recent Israeli  approval of plans for the construction of about 5,000 housing units in settlements in the West Bank.

“This action by Israel runs counter to the efforts to provide momentum toward easing tensions and stabilizing the region including a series of agreements to normalize relations between the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Kingdom of Bahrain,” the foreign ministry in Tokyo said.
 
“The Government of Japan once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to totally freeze its settlement activities including implementing the construction plans that are undermining the viability of a two-state solution.”