Israel ambassador stares straight ahead at Peace Memorial Ceremony, says “honor to be invited,” while Palestine representative condemns participation
Aug. 7, 2024
by Michio Shimotaka, Staff Writer, and Michiko Tanaka, Senior Staff Writer
On August 6, Gilad Cohen, the ambassador to Japan of Israel, which continues its attacks on the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held at Peace Memorial Park, in the city’s Naka Ward. A citizens’ group opposing Israel’s attendance at the ceremony held a gathering and criticized the Hiroshima City government for its handling of the situation. In that way, the conflict within the international community was reflected in the A-bombed city.
Mr. Cohen sat staring straight ahead during the ceremony. After the ceremony and before leaving Peace Park, he exchanged words with Rahm Emanuel, the ambassador to Japan of the United States, Israel’s ally. Mr. Cohen posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “As in previous years, Today I was honored to attend the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on behalf of Israel. Paying respect to the families and the people of Japan in memory of those who lost their lives in August 1945. We stand with you in solemn remembrance.”
Mr. Cohen also visited Peace Park on August 5 and said in an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun that he was honored to have been invited to the ceremony. In response to the people condemning his attendance at the ceremony, he insisted that the war was an exercise of the nation’s right to self-defense and had not been initiated by Israel. He added that Israel’s participation in the ceremony over so many years was representative of the message that Israel seeks peace.
Meanwhile, the Hiroshima-Palestine Vigil Community, a citizens’ organization that has criticized the city for extending its invitation to Israel, held a gathering at Peace Park on the evening of August 6. Mr. Waleed Siam, representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine to Japan, participated online in the gathering, emphasizing that the killing in the attacks by Israel of civilians, including children, is in fact genocide. He added that families have been torn apart, children are growing up underneath rubble, and Paelistinian voices are being erased by the Israeli military, with Hiroshima City excluding such victims from the ceremony.
Hiroshima City has not extended invitations to Russia, which invaded Ukraine, and its ally of Belarus, for three consecutive years, or to the Palestinian National Authority, which Japan’s national government does not recognize as a state. On the other hand, as usual, the Nagasaki City government invited representatives of Palestine, but the city did not invite representatives of Israel to that city’s Peace Memorial Ceremony held on August 9.
(Originally published on August 7, 2024)
On August 6, Gilad Cohen, the ambassador to Japan of Israel, which continues its attacks on the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held at Peace Memorial Park, in the city’s Naka Ward. A citizens’ group opposing Israel’s attendance at the ceremony held a gathering and criticized the Hiroshima City government for its handling of the situation. In that way, the conflict within the international community was reflected in the A-bombed city.
Mr. Cohen sat staring straight ahead during the ceremony. After the ceremony and before leaving Peace Park, he exchanged words with Rahm Emanuel, the ambassador to Japan of the United States, Israel’s ally. Mr. Cohen posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “As in previous years, Today I was honored to attend the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on behalf of Israel. Paying respect to the families and the people of Japan in memory of those who lost their lives in August 1945. We stand with you in solemn remembrance.”
Mr. Cohen also visited Peace Park on August 5 and said in an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun that he was honored to have been invited to the ceremony. In response to the people condemning his attendance at the ceremony, he insisted that the war was an exercise of the nation’s right to self-defense and had not been initiated by Israel. He added that Israel’s participation in the ceremony over so many years was representative of the message that Israel seeks peace.
Meanwhile, the Hiroshima-Palestine Vigil Community, a citizens’ organization that has criticized the city for extending its invitation to Israel, held a gathering at Peace Park on the evening of August 6. Mr. Waleed Siam, representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine to Japan, participated online in the gathering, emphasizing that the killing in the attacks by Israel of civilians, including children, is in fact genocide. He added that families have been torn apart, children are growing up underneath rubble, and Paelistinian voices are being erased by the Israeli military, with Hiroshima City excluding such victims from the ceremony.
Hiroshima City has not extended invitations to Russia, which invaded Ukraine, and its ally of Belarus, for three consecutive years, or to the Palestinian National Authority, which Japan’s national government does not recognize as a state. On the other hand, as usual, the Nagasaki City government invited representatives of Palestine, but the city did not invite representatives of Israel to that city’s Peace Memorial Ceremony held on August 9.
(Originally published on August 7, 2024)
