Israeli deputy foreign minister visits Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Nov. 19, 2010
by Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writer
On November 17, Daniel Ayalon, Israeli deputy foreign minister, visited Peace Memorial Park and offered a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb victims. By linking A-bomb survivors with the history of the Holocaust, he said that Hiroshima and Israel have common experiences which should be conveyed to the world.
Mr. Ayalon is visiting Japan with the aim of strengthening ties between Israel and Japan. He visited Hiroshima at his own request. After touring Peace Memorial Museum, he responded to questions from reporters. He harshly criticized Iran, which is suspected of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
With regard to the fact that Israel is the target of international criticism as a de-facto nuclear weapon state that has not joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he argued that democratic Israel cannot be compared to Iran, which threatens other nations and is in violation of the NPT.
Mr. Ayalon also met with Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba at Hiroshima City Hall. When asked for cooperation in the effort to increase the number of member cities of Mayors for Peace, he responded that he would gladly support this effort. The mayor did not touch upon the issue of nuclear weapons possession.
(Originally published on November 18, 2010)
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On November 17, Daniel Ayalon, Israeli deputy foreign minister, visited Peace Memorial Park and offered a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb victims. By linking A-bomb survivors with the history of the Holocaust, he said that Hiroshima and Israel have common experiences which should be conveyed to the world.
Mr. Ayalon is visiting Japan with the aim of strengthening ties between Israel and Japan. He visited Hiroshima at his own request. After touring Peace Memorial Museum, he responded to questions from reporters. He harshly criticized Iran, which is suspected of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
With regard to the fact that Israel is the target of international criticism as a de-facto nuclear weapon state that has not joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he argued that democratic Israel cannot be compared to Iran, which threatens other nations and is in violation of the NPT.
Mr. Ayalon also met with Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba at Hiroshima City Hall. When asked for cooperation in the effort to increase the number of member cities of Mayors for Peace, he responded that he would gladly support this effort. The mayor did not touch upon the issue of nuclear weapons possession.
(Originally published on November 18, 2010)
Related articles
Nuclear Weapons Can Be Eliminated: Chapter 10, Part 2 (May 14, 2010)
Nuclear Weapons Can Be Eliminated: Chapter 10, Part 1 (May 13, 2010)
Nuclear Weapons Can Be Eliminated: Chapter 10, Introduction (May 12, 2010)
