JAPAN EXPRESSES CONTINUING CONCERNS OVER GAZA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000028

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/05/2019
TAGS: PREL EAID UNRWA KWBG KPAL IS JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN EXPRESSES CONTINUING CONCERNS OVER GAZA;
WILL CONTRIBUTE FUNDS

REF: A. TOKYO 4

B. 08 STATE 135559

TOKYO 00000028 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan remains deeply concerned about the
situation in Gaza, but official public statements have been
measured and even-handed. Following his December 31
telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert
(ref A),Prime Minister Aso telephoned Palestinian Authority
Abbas on January 3 and urged him to do whatever he could to
end the violence. He also informed Abbas that Japan will
make available USD 10 million in humanitarian assistance,
including USD 3 million in response to the UNRWA flash appeal
(ref B). In subsequent public statements, Prime Minister
Aso, Foreign Minister Nakasone, and Chief Cabinet Secretary
Kawamura have all expressed deep concern, particularly citing
the introduction of Israeli Defense Force ground units into
the conflict. The Israeli Ambassador in Tokyo has met with
MOFA counterparts to urge against United Nations Security
Council action. Japan's view is that the Security Council
does have a role to play in addressing this conflict. END
SUMMARY.

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ASO CALLS ABBAS; PROMISES HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
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2. (C) Following his December 31 telephone conversation with
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert (ref A),Prime Minister Aso
January 3 called Palestinian Authority President Abbas to
urge him to do whatever is possible to bring the violence in
Gaza to a halt, confirmed MOFA First Middle East Division
Principal Deputy Director Akihiro Tsuji. Tsuji said that
although Japan realizes Abbas has no influence with Hamas, a
call from Aso to Abbas was appropriate to express Japan's
concern about the ongoing violence and to convey its
intention to be of assistance. Aso told Abbas Japan will
make available USD 10 million in humanitarian assistance,
including USD 3 million in response to the UNRWA flash
appeal. Tsuji told us that the remaining USD 7 million would
be disbursed prior to the end of the current fiscal year in
March, but that the channels through which this support will
be delivered have yet to be determined. Possibilities under
consideration by MOFA include making funds available to WHO
or UNICEF. According to Tsuji, this assistance will be
formally agreed upon and announced to the public on Friday,
January 9 following the next Cabinet meeting.

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PUBLIC STATEMENTS CONTINUE TO EXPRESS CONCERN
--------------


3. (U) In addition to publicizing calls made to Israeli and
Palestinian leaders, Aso and his senior advisors also
continue to make public statements expressing concern. In
his New Years press conference January 4, Aso told reporters
his government has urged both sides to constrain their forces
and stated that "the deployment of ground troops has worsened
the situation." That same day, Foreign Minister Nakasone
issued a statement that Japan "is deeply concerned about the
fact that the situation in and around the Gaza Strip is
deteriorating, and that Israeli ground troops have entered
the Strip, in spite of the international community's calls
for a ceasefire. At the same time, Japan deplores the fact
that rocket attacks launched from the Gaza Strip against
Israel are continuing." He again called on both sides to
immediately halt the use of force and work to achieve a
durable cessation of violence, and also mentioned Japan's
intention to provide emergency humanitarian assistance. Chief
Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura in his briefing to reporters
January 5 reiterated Japan remains "deeply concerned" about
the violence, repeated Japan's call to both sides to cease
the violence, and said that rocket attacks against Israel by
Hamas were "extremely regrettable."


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ISRAEL LOBBIES AGAINST SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION
-------------- -


4. (C) Israeli Ambassador to Tokyo Nisim Ben-Shitrit met
January 5 with Deputy Vice Foreign Minister for Foreign
Policy Koro Bessho, who is responsible for Japan's United
Nations policy, and separately with Bessho's superior, Deputy
Minister for Political Affairs Kenichiro Sasae, confirmed
both Tsuji and Israeli Embassy Second Secretary Israel
Strolov. The purpose of Ben-Shitrit's call on both was to
urge Japan to oppose either a Security Council meeting or
statement/resolution on the Gaza conflict. According to
Tsuji, while Bessho remained non-committal, Japan's view is
that the Security Council is responsible for maintaining
peace and security, and accordingly, the Security Council
should act in this instance to address the ongoing violence.
That said, Tsuji caveated his remarks by adding that Japan
will consult with other members of the Security Council
regarding actions to be taken.


5. (C) The Israeli Embassy believes both meetings went well.
Strolov reported that Sasae opened his meeting by recalling
his visit to Israel last May and the subsequent visit to
Tokyo of Israel's MFA Director General in December, noting he
was "not surprised" when the violence erupted. Both Sasae
and Bessho were in a listening mode, said Strolov, and did
not express any strong protests or condemnations of Israel's
actions, leading the Israelis here to believe the Japanese
have an understanding of Israel's actions. However, Strolov
did acknowledge the Japanese seem to have a problem with the
scope of Israel's response and the resultant civilian
casualties. The Israeli Embassy is very satisfied by the
tone of Japan's public statements, reported Strolov, who
noted "we couldn't have expected better, and could have
expected a lot worse." Strolov told us protests have
continued for the past two days in front of his embassy, but
they have been small and peaceful. (NOTE: There have been
small demonstrations at U.S. Consulates in Japan, but thus
far nothing at Embassy Tokyo. END NOTE.)


6. (C) In addition to requesting meeting with Japanese
government officials, the Israeli Ambassador was also called
to a meeting January 6 by Parliament member Taro Kono,
Chairman of the Lower House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
According to Strolov, Kono started the meeting with a rather
confrontational tone, stating he had been requested by the
members of his committee to deliver an appropriate response
to the Israelis concerning the events in Gaza. However,
instead of delivering any such message, he asked Ambassador
Ben-Shitrit for an update on the situation. He asked a
number of follow-up questions, but did not offer any
criticism of Israel, and ended the meeting by stating he
would report back to the committee the results of his
meeting. Strolov said that both he and his ambassador left
thinking that while Kono might have requested the meeting to
deliver a stern message, he apparently had a change of heart.

SCHIEFFER