Israeli assassination of Hamas leader is worst expression of U.S. Bush doctrine

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo commented on the Middle East situation on an Asahi Newstar political interview program aired on March 24 via the communication satellite broadcast.

On the assassination by the Israeli armed forces of Sheik Ahmed Yassin, founder of Palestine's Islamic fundamentalist organization Hamas, Shii said, "It's a lawless action in violation of international law and cruel folly that works against peace in the Middle East."

Shii said, "The main cause of the Israel-Palestine conflict is Israel's continued unjustifiable occupation of Palestinian territory in violation of United Nations resolutions. So the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from occupied land is essential."

Referring to the Palestinian response to Israel's occupation, Shii emphasized that the Palestinians should not resort to such violent acts as indiscriminate killings of Israeli citizens because such acts have no justification and do not help to win international support. He also called on Palestinians to abandon the call by some for the destruction of Israel and to work for a peaceful co-existence with Israel.

The recent "road-map" to Middle East peace has confirmed "mutual co-existence" can be achieved, but the assassination by Israel will have an enormously adverse effect on the resolution of the Palestine question, Shii said.

He said, "Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shares the same war logic with U.S. President George W. Bush."

Shii said that the assassination of Yassin was the worst expression of the U.S. Bush doctrine of "war against terrorism".

Shii said that the international community is called upon to publicly criticize Israel for its lawless action. He criticized the Japanese government for first making the timid statement calling on both sides to show restraint and for its second statement that still lacked a clear denunciation of the act as a violation of international law. Shii said that all that the Japanese government is concerned about is what the U.S. response will be. (end)