Press Releases

Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the announcement regarding the expropriation of the land in the southern part of the West Bank

September 2, 2014

1. The Government of Japan strongly deplores that the Government of Israel has announced to expropriate nearly 4 square kilometers of land in the southern part of the West Bank.

2. This announcement by Israeli Government clearly contradicts the ongoing efforts by the international community toward ceasefire agreement over Gaza as well as realizing a two-state solution.

3. Settlement activities are violation of international law, and Japan has repeatedly called upon Israel to completely freeze settlement activities. The Government of Japan strongly calls upon Israel to refrain from any unilateral act that changes the current status of East Jerusalem as well as the West Bank and to refrain from implementing the above-mentioned announcement for the sake of progress in the peace process.

4. Japan once again strongly urges both sides to act to enhance mutual trust as well as to continue to make steady efforts for peace.


(* The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)
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