Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Following controversial remarks by NAKAYAMA Yasuhide, Japan’s Deputy Defense Minister, stating that Israel had the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks, around 100 demonstrators gathered to protest outside the Israeli Embassy and the Ministry of Defense.

Pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to approach the Israeli Embassy but were stopped by a police roadblock about 100 meters from the official building.

At the call of the BDS Association for the boycott of Israel and the NAJAT Association, which fights against the arms trade, demonstrators of several nationalities joined the protests.

In front of the Defense Ministry, a 28-year-old Japanese protester, wearing a headscarf, protested against the comments of Nakayama.

A musician who wore a T-shirt with a portrait of Yasser Arafat and belongs to an association that aids Palestinians, said the minister was part of a Japanese-Israeli parliamentary friendship group, so his remark was not surprising.