Politics

Japan Deeply Concerned Over Israel’s Destruction of Palestinian Buildings

Friday, July 26, 2019

Tokyo – (PanOrient News) Japan expressed “deep concern” after Israel demolished about 10 buildings owned by Palestinians this week, according to a statement released Thursday.

“This incident goes against the ongoing efforts by the international community including Japan to create an environment conducive to serious dialogue between the parties and to achieve a two-state solution whereby the state of Israel and a future independent state of Palestine co-exist in peace,” said the statement released by Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

The buildings were located on the edge of Jerusalem in the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority has jurisdiction. The U.N. had asked Israel not to demolish the buildings, an act which Palestinian officials condemned as a war crime. 17 Palestinians were reportedly displaced by the move.

But Israel claimed that the buildings, in the Wadi al-Hummus neighborhood, were in a buffer zone and constituted a security threat.

“Japan firmly believes that the issues faced by the two parties, Israel and Palestine, can only be resolved through direct negotiations based on trust built through efforts of both parties,” said the Japanese statement. “Japan once again strongly urges both parties to act to enhance mutual trust and continue to make steady efforts toward peace.”



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