JP  : KOR        
              On June 6th 2024, we, Kansai Gaza Emergency Action submitted the following letter to the EXPO 2025 organising committee to express our objection to the Japanese government’s request(invitation?) for Israel to participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (EXPO 2025)

              As we have still not even received a reply, we are starting an online petition appealing to wider domestic public opinion. With your voices of support we plan to take further action to demand that the request for Israel’s participation be rescinded.

We sincerely hope you will support our petition. 

To the Japanese Government and 

the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition:

 

Withdraw Israel’s invitation to participate in EXPO 2025!

Petition

To: Minister for Foreign Affairs: KAWAKAMI Yōko and

Chairman of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition: TOKURA Masakazu

              On March 29th the Israeli government announced that it would participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan (EXPO 2025) in a Type C pavilion.

              At a press conference on April 2nd the minister responsible for EXPO 2025, JIMI Hanako declared that Israel’s actions in Gaza were in direct response to the October 7th terrorist attack by Hamas and others, and that it was not appropriate to compare this response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, thus confirming the government’s approval of Israel’s participation in the EXPO 2025

              Further, the Israeli government announced that, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, TSUJI Kiyoto, while on a courtesy visit to Israel’s Foreign Minister, Yisrael KATZ, had requested Israel’s participation in EXPO 2025.

              We citizens of Kansai, in our deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, strongly oppose this development. Permitting Israel’s participation in EXPO 2025 despite Israel’s defiance of the order for provisional measures recently issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the continuing serious destruction inflicted by the genocide in Gaza, is, in its disregard for human rights, a totally incomprehensible political position.

              Not only does this violate the UN General Assembly Resolution ES-9/1 of 1982 which “calls upon all Member States to cease forthwith, individually and collectively, all dealings with Israel in order totally to isolate it in all fields”, but it exposes to international scrutiny Japan’s double standard regarding the genocide in Gaza which, as Japanese citizens, is something we cannot accept.

              Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael KATZ stated, “While we continue to fight a just war against a murderous terrorist organisation, participating in this important event in Japan is an extremely valuable opportunity for Israel,” showing that Israel has determined that participation in EXPO 2025 would help the nation to raise its international standing.

              On May 24th, though the ICJ ordered Israel to cease its attacks on Rafah, Israel not only ignored this order, but on May 26th carried out air strikes on the refugee camp at Rafah, killing at least 45 evacuees. The Israeli UN Ambassador is, in effect, admitting that participating in the EXPO is useful for the continuation of these criminal activities.

              The Japanese government itself says of the ICJ’s order for provisional measures, “Member states are legally bound by these orders and are obliged to carry them out in full sincerity.” Japan has also promised to respect the orders of the ICJ, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights law (IHRL), and has the political and diplomatic duty to make Israel stop its attacks on Gaza. Israel’s participation in EXPO 2025 flies in the face of these obligations.

              Since last year, Japan’s stance on the Israeli assault on Gaza has been to “refrain from making a legally definitive decision,” and has consequently been hesitant over sanctions against Israel, while its responses to changes in international attitudes to conditions in Gaza and Israel’s military operations can only be judged as completely mistaken.

              On April 5th, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolution to prohibit the supply of arms to Israel, while on May 20th, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin NETANYAHU, Minister of Defence, Yoav GALLANT, and leading members of Hamas.

              Initiated by the Belgian Prime Minister, discussions proceeded in Europe on boycotting produce from the illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank, Palestine. Even the Biden administration took action by restricting some of its arms supplies to Israel and imposing visa bans on certain extremist settlers.

              It is essential to properly recall the content of the ICJ’s January 26th order for a variety of provisional measures to prevent genocide.

              Denying Israel a place at EXPO 2025 is an essential step in sending a clear message to Israel, which continues its rampage despite the ICJ’s order, that the international community demands it cease military operations immediately.

              Failing to do so sends the opposite message; namely that both the Japanese government and the EXPO Association are ignoring the ICJ’s order demanding an end to the genocide.

              On June 3rd, SUZUKI Shirō, mayor of the city of Nagasaki, announced that, considering world opinion regarding the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israel would, like Russia, not be invited to participate in the annual Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony held on August 9th. In order to maintain an equable stance, there is no choice but to take the same attitude toward Israel’s participation in EXPO 2025.

              In the light of rising international pressure, Israel’s extreme right is escalating its power, reducing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s control over his own government.  

              We strongly request that, with regard to the current situation, the Japanese government and EXPO 2025 Association, immediately reconsider their policy and withdraw the invitation for Israel to participate in EXPO 2025. 

              Now that the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, and the ICJ has recognised Israel’s military operations as genocide, it is too late for mere sanctions against Israel. 

              We sincerely request that Japan and the EXPO 2025 Association abandon the warped diplomacy of Western nations that maintains the dying tradition of Israel’s immunity from prosecution, and make a proper judgment which confirms respect for international law and the prevention of genocide.

Contact: kansaigaza@gmail.com