December 4, 2023

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Takahashi Chizuko, as a member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, on December 1 attended the talks with the Arab Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo.

The Arab diplomats included Ambassadors of Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, and the Syrian charge d'affaires ad interim.

Takahashi said that regarding the resumption of Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, she felt extremely disappointed and expressed her deep concern. She explained the JCP position demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, not just a pause in fighting.

Ambassador Waleed Siam, Representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan, showed photos of children and citizens in Gaza who were injured and killed in Israeli strikes, and asked if these people look like Hamas fighters. While expressing concern that the Japanese government and many other countries only concentrate on the October 7 Hamas attack, the Palestinian representative explained that the need is to know and understand that Palestine has been under Israeli occupation for 75 years since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

The Syrian representative said with respect that Japan admirably achieved reconstruction from the devastation of the atomic bombings and became a nation complying with international law. On the other hand, he said that it is unacceptable not only for G7 chair Japan but also other G7 members to claim that the occupier, Israel, has the right to defend itself.

Takahashi referred to the recent talks between the Palestinian ambassador and JCP Chair Shii Kazuo, and thanked the ambassador for giving of his time for holding the talks. She said, “The JCP will continue urging the Japanese government to condemn Israel’s attacks which put Gaza residents at a serious risk of genocide and work for an immediate ceasefire.”

The diplomatic corps of Arab countries expressed their hope that Japan will remain a good friend of the Arab world.

Past related article:
> Shii holds talks with Palestinian ambassador regarding ongoing conflict in Gaza [ November 17, 2023]