Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO5062
2007-10-31 22:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN RECONGNIZES PALESTINIAN NATIONALITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #5062 3042244 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 312244Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9092 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 0332 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0274 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0291 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0491 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1879 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1947 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1161 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5812 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0552 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0727 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0355 RUEPICA/USCIS WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/FBI WASHDC RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/USFJ
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005062
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PREL CPAS KPAL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN RECONGNIZES PALESTINIAN NATIONALITY
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005062
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PREL CPAS KPAL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN RECONGNIZES PALESTINIAN NATIONALITY
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1.(C) SUMMARY: Japan has decided to recognize Palestinian
nationality as of October 15 and will no longer consider
children born in Japan to Palestinian parents to be
"stateless," as was previously the case. The Palestinian
mission in Tokyo is pleased with this development, and
considers it a step forward politically, even though they
acknowledge disappointment that a previously held right to
claim Japanese citizenship has been extinguished. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Japan, as of October 15, 2007, has started recognizing
Palestinian residents and their children as holding
Palestinian "nationality." This is the first instance in
which Japan will allow foreign nationals to acquire
nationality designations even though the government has not
formally recognized their country as a state. JapQtreats
the Palestinian Authority as an interim government but does
not recognize Palestine as a state. Tokyo has reportedly
decided to recognize Palestinian nationality because the
Palestinian Authority has developed into an entity similar to
a state, and because Japan has recognized passports issued by
the PA since 2002.
3. (U) The main practical effect of this new policy will be
to deny claims to Japanese citizenship made by children born
to Palestinian parents in Japan. According to the Japanese
Nationality Law, children who are born to parents considered
"stateless" are given Japanese nationality. Now that Japan
recognizes a Palestinian nationality, children born to
Palestinian parents in Japan will be considered Palestinian,
not Japanese. This change is to have retroactive effect,
meaning that any children born in Japan to Palestinian
parents even prior to October 15 will also, henceforth, be
considered not to have a claim to Japanese citizenship.
4. (C) Waleed Siam, Chief of the Permanent General Mission of
Palestine in Tokyo, told political officer he considers this
a very positive development, although he acknowledged it will
cost Palestinians the right to claim Japanese citizenship,
which is considered by them to be a valuable option.
Nevertheless, Siam felt it more important in the long term
that Palestinian national rights be acknowledged and
recognized, and said the Japanese were unwilling to have it
both ways, i.e., recognize Palestinian nationality and still
grant Japanese citizenship status to children born in Japan
to Palestinian parents. Siam said he has been working toward
this goal for two years and is now working closely with the
Japanese to implement the new policy, urging Tokyo to begin
listing "Palestinian" on drivers licenses, visas, work
permits, and other identity documents, in place of the
previously used "stateless" designation.
5. (C) The Japanese, too, seem satisfied with this
arrangement. MOFA First Middle East Division Director Hideo
Sato told political officer Japan is happy to be able to show
its support for the Palestinians. Left unsaid, however, was
also the fact that this policy works to limit claims to
Japanese citizenship by "outsiders."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PREL CPAS KPAL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN RECONGNIZES PALESTINIAN NATIONALITY
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1.(C) SUMMARY: Japan has decided to recognize Palestinian
nationality as of October 15 and will no longer consider
children born in Japan to Palestinian parents to be
"stateless," as was previously the case. The Palestinian
mission in Tokyo is pleased with this development, and
considers it a step forward politically, even though they
acknowledge disappointment that a previously held right to
claim Japanese citizenship has been extinguished. END
SUMMARY.
2. (U) Japan, as of October 15, 2007, has started recognizing
Palestinian residents and their children as holding
Palestinian "nationality." This is the first instance in
which Japan will allow foreign nationals to acquire
nationality designations even though the government has not
formally recognized their country as a state. JapQtreats
the Palestinian Authority as an interim government but does
not recognize Palestine as a state. Tokyo has reportedly
decided to recognize Palestinian nationality because the
Palestinian Authority has developed into an entity similar to
a state, and because Japan has recognized passports issued by
the PA since 2002.
3. (U) The main practical effect of this new policy will be
to deny claims to Japanese citizenship made by children born
to Palestinian parents in Japan. According to the Japanese
Nationality Law, children who are born to parents considered
"stateless" are given Japanese nationality. Now that Japan
recognizes a Palestinian nationality, children born to
Palestinian parents in Japan will be considered Palestinian,
not Japanese. This change is to have retroactive effect,
meaning that any children born in Japan to Palestinian
parents even prior to October 15 will also, henceforth, be
considered not to have a claim to Japanese citizenship.
4. (C) Waleed Siam, Chief of the Permanent General Mission of
Palestine in Tokyo, told political officer he considers this
a very positive development, although he acknowledged it will
cost Palestinians the right to claim Japanese citizenship,
which is considered by them to be a valuable option.
Nevertheless, Siam felt it more important in the long term
that Palestinian national rights be acknowledged and
recognized, and said the Japanese were unwilling to have it
both ways, i.e., recognize Palestinian nationality and still
grant Japanese citizenship status to children born in Japan
to Palestinian parents. Siam said he has been working toward
this goal for two years and is now working closely with the
Japanese to implement the new policy, urging Tokyo to begin
listing "Palestinian" on drivers licenses, visas, work
permits, and other identity documents, in place of the
previously used "stateless" designation.
5. (C) The Japanese, too, seem satisfied with this
arrangement. MOFA First Middle East Division Director Hideo
Sato told political officer Japan is happy to be able to show
its support for the Palestinians. Left unsaid, however, was
also the fact that this policy works to limit claims to
Japanese citizenship by "outsiders."
SCHIEFFER