日本語

Link for this petition here: https://www.change.org/palestina_no_heiwa_eng

In June 2024, the manager of a hotel in Kyoto requested the cancellation of a reservation made by a member of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israel has been carrying out indiscriminate mass killings in Gaza for over nine months, with some Israeli ministers even mentioning the extermination of Palestinians and the use of nuclear weapons. The manager's decision was based on the numerous war crimes and violations of international law committed by the IDF, and was neither an act of discrimination based on nationality nor anti-Semitism. However, the City of Kyoto issued an administrative guidance against the hotel, stating that "the refusal of accommodation is an illegal act."

We, the Palestina no Heiwa wo Motomerukai, protest this to the Japanese government and urge actions in accordance with the spirit of international humanitarian law (details below).

In June of this year, the manager of Hotel Material in Kyoto requested the cancellation of a reservation made by an individual considered to be associated with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The name of the individual was publicly listed on one of the world's largest business-oriented social networking platforms where the manager confirmed his career history before requesting the cancellation of the reservation. He explained that accepting such a reservation would put the hotel at risk of complicity to war crimes, due to ongoing heinous acts of war by the IDF in the Gaza Strip, which are considered to be war crimes. The cancellation was mutually agreed upon by both parties.

As widely reported, the Israeli military has been repeatedly carrying out intolerable acts of mass killings in the Gaza Strip, resulting in severe condemnation of Israel's war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law by various international organizations including the United Nations. A senior UNICEF official described Gaza as a "graveyard for children," and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to take all measures to prevent genocide and to halt military operations in Rafah. Nevertheless, as of June 30 this year, NHK reports that 37,834 people (according to the Gaza Ministry of Health) have been killed, with the number continuing to rise.

The manager's decision, based on these actions by the IDF, was not an act of discrimination based on nationality but rather one rooted in ethical and moral convictions, protecting not only him, as an individual, but also the hotel and, by extension, Japan from complicity in war crimes.

The manager’s decision has generated significant reactions both domestically and internationally. Significantly, amidst widespread criticisms of Israel's genocide and calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, many around the world have praised the manager’s decision. Unfortunately, the manager's personal information has been exposed, leading to harassment on social media and disruptions to hotel operations. Notably, there have been acts of undue pressure from the Ambassador of Israel to Japan, who has misrepresented the humanitarian decision as “discrimination based on nationality” and demanded the dismissal of the manager to the hotel’s owner.

In light of the above, we request the following actions in accordance with the spirit of international humanitarian law, with signatures attached:

1. Ratification of the Genocide Convention by the Japanese Government: The Japanese government should ratify the Genocide Convention.
2. Participation in ICJ Prosecutions of Israel’s War Crimes: The Japanese government should join the ICJ as a complainant to prosecute Israel’s war crimes.
3. Cessation of support to Israel's activities in the occupied territories: In accordance with the advisory opinion of the ICJ which reached the conclusion that the policy of occupation in Palestine is in violation of international law, the Japanese government should fulfill its obligation as a state not to support Israel's activities in the occupied territories.
4. Guidance by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare: The Minister should provide guidance to relevant parties to ensure that hotels and similar establishments operate in compliance with international humanitarian law in accordance with the Hotel Business Act.
5. Communication by the Minister for Foreign Affairs: The Minister should formally convey to the Ambassador of Israel to Japan a demand for an immediate ceasefire and ensure that this is communicated to the government of Israel.
6. Retract Undue Pressure on Hotel Material: The Minister for Foreign Affairs should request the Ambassador of Israel to Japan to retract the undue pressure applied to Hotel Material.

Even after October 7, IDF members have been traveling across Japan for tourism, just like civilians who have committed no crimes. Unfortunately, in today’s Japan, hotels are obligated to accept individuals involved in war crimes. What if the person staying in the room next to yours was involved in the killing of Palestinian children? Or was complicit in the unjust detention and torture of numerous civilians? Most people would find it deeply unsettling.

According to news reports, the Hotel Business Act prohibits the refusal of accommodation except in cases where the guest is clearly recognized as having a contagious disease or is likely to engage in behavior that disrupts public morals. However, the same law also states that accommodation can be refused if there are "other reasons stipulated by prefectural ordinances." Kyoto City's ordinance includes the provision to refuse accommodation to "those recognized as having other justifiable reasons for refusal."* Kyoto City’s administrative action has made clear that the city does not consider the desire to avoid becoming complicit in war crimes as a "justifiable reason."

Now that the ICJ (in its advisory opinion) has recognized Israel as an apartheid state and confirmed that its occupation policies in Palestine are violations of international law, we not only strongly reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire, but also believe that the issue of the IDF member's hotel reservation in Kyoto should not simply end with the city's administrative guidance. Instead, it should lead to a broader discussion on the operation of accommodations in Japan based on moral judgment.

*Kyoto City Ordinance and Regulations for the Enforcement of the Hotel Business Act and Measures to Ensure the Proper Operation of Inns and Hotels; Kyoto City Guidelines for the Enforcement of the Hotel Business Act.

Deadline:

September 28th, 2024.

About the Palestina no Heiwa wo Motomerukai:

The Palestina no Heiwa wo Motomerukai is a citizen group that seeks to end the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza and advocates for an immediate ceasefire. Since October of last year, the group has held weekly gatherings every Saturday in front of Kyoto City Hall, followed by a demonstration march down Kawaramachi Street, with around 200 participants each time.

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|-| We have another petition here too! |-|

Israeli ambassador! Retract your letter to hotel in Kyoto and respect international law!

https://www.change.org/yes_to_life_no_to_IDF_eng

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Reference Links for Those Who Want to Learn More About the Issue of IDF Personnel's Reservation at a Kyoto Hotel:

• Press Conference Record of Foreign Minister Kamikawa (Comment on "Discrimination against an Israeli Tourist to Japan," June 21, 2024, 11:35 AM), https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/kaiken/kaikenite_000001_00021.html#topic6. Accessed August 18, 2024.
• Israeli Embassy Protests to Kyoto Hotel for Refusing Israeli Guests Due to Gaza Invasion. Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21, 2024. Yomiuri Shimbun Online, https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20240621-OYT1T50026/. Accessed August 18, 2024 (Only in Japanese).
• Kyoto hotel bars Israeli man over possible ties to Gaza operation. Asahi Shimbun, June 22, 2024. Asahi Shimbun Digital, https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15315897. Accessed August 18, 2024.
• Japanese hotel accused of canceling Israeli guest’s reservation because of 'war crimes'. CNN, June 24, 2024. CNN travel, https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/24/travel/japanese-hotel-accused-canceling-israeli-guest-reservation-war-crimes-hnk/index.html. Accessed August 18, 2024.
• 'Zionist-free Zone': Israelis Are Increasingly Unwanted at Global Tourism Sites. Haaretz, 2024-07-15, Haaretz.com, https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-07-15/ty-article/.premium/zionist-free-zone-israelis-are-increasingly-unwanted-at-global-tourism-sites/00000190-b60f-d9f4-afd5-fe8fec740000. Accessed August 18, 2024.