Japan urges Israel to immediately halt airstrikes on Gaza

Thursday 01st January, 05:17 AM JST

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isojso at 12:47 AM JST - 2nd January

Israel only attacks after it gets attacked.

Wrong and this is a big lie. Israel attacked the Palestinians first. Gavinova you should know that when someone tells lies they are not having a balanced view.
Gavinova at 12:54 AM JST - 2nd January

No offense but where have you been the past few years on that one?

No offense but where have you been the past few years on that one? One errant Israeli missle into a hospital or market with civilian casualities and the inevitable "We regret the lost of innocent life" response from Israel is about the only way Hamas can survive right now.

I just haven't seem a lot of evidence of it. Maybe one or two examples. It is possible Hamas might be able to convince some fruit loop supporters to jump into harms way, but I think by in large Palestinian people want to live.
northlondon at 03:14 AM JST - 2nd January

Israel is doing this with the tacit approval of Egypt and all the other Arab countries with the exception of Iran, which is really Persian but I digress.

Somebody seems to be getting confused between a common language (Arabic) and a common religion (Islam). Why is it that some people think that the Egyptians, the Saudi Arabians, the Syrians etc are all 'Arabs' ? They speak the Arabic language but are not all 'Arabs'. The quote above really is confused because Iranians do not speak Arabic (as weakly pointed out in the quote) but speak Farsi not 'Persian' and are not (the stereotyped term) 'Arabs'. The reason why countries such as Egypt, Syria and Iran have taken a stand against Israel is because the region follows Islam and Israel is a relatively new nation bang in the middle of that region with a totally different religion and with totally different politics (why am I having to teach this very basic of lessons ?) Maybe a basic understanding of the region would be a good idea before people start ranting on about their solution. I guess this is why globally-illiterate nations such as the US have messed things up whenever they play their oil war games in that region.
sailwind at 11:20 AM JST - 2nd January

Why is it that some people think that the Egyptians, the Saudi Arabians, the Syrians etc are all 'Arabs' ?

Because they are all members of the Arab League perhaps (why am I having to teach this very basic of lessons ?) ?

The League of Arab States, or Arab League, is a voluntary association of countries whose peoples are mainly Arabic speaking.

It aims to strengthen ties among member states, coordinate their policies and direct them towards the common good.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middleeast/countryprofiles/1550797.stm
LIBERTAS at 03:22 AM JST - 3rd January

Olmert just put down the phone and laughed. Another spin sold to a foreign government. ("Barak, more bombs away!" he was heard to say afterward.)
WilliB at 12:47 AM JST - 5th January

Japan´s government is kissing the fat behinds of the oil producing Arab states, who naturally side with the Hamas jihadists.
WilliB at 12:49 AM JST - 5th January

isojso:

" Wrong and this is a big lie. Israel attacked the Palestinians first. "

But of course. 8000 missiles fired from Gazah onto Southern Israeli towns don´t count.

Only when the uppity Jews fire back, then we have an "attack". Don´t we know it by now.
jeancolmar at 07:55 AM JST - 6th January

That Japan has issued to call for a cease fire is to be welcomed, however ineffectual it may be. It is also amazing, considering that Japan usually follows the US line in matters like this.

For whatever reason Japan has called for a cease fire it is correct in doing so. Israel Nazi-like attack on Gaza is disproportionate to the feeble rocket attacks from Hamas. And it should be noted that before the rocket attacks there was the immoral blockade that has stopped all humanitarian aid to Gaza, which in itself is an act of war.
Molenir at 09:12 AM JST - 6th January

Absolutely, its disproportionate. Israel should just keep ignoring the rockets like they've been doing for months right? After all, murder is ok as long as its just Jews being murdered. Thats what you're really saying right Jean?
Starviking at 01:32 PM JST - 6th January

@Molenir,

I don't think putting words in people's mouths is going to help.

Israel have killed over 500 people in the past week. How many people have these rockets killed over the past decade? 10? 20?

It is disproportionate, vengeful, and it won't help the situation.
zurcronium at 01:37 PM JST - 6th January

Molenir,

Jean is right. Israel is acting like high-tech nazi storm troopers in committed war crimes and basically genocide of a totally occupied people. What the Israeli terrorists did to gain their freedom back in the old days is nothing compared to Hamas now and their backyard rocket attacks. The killing is running 100 to 1 arabs to jews since the US technology is being given away to Israel by bush. I am sure if Israel nuked the West Bank you would be happy.
Molenir at 02:34 PM JST - 6th January

Right, of course Jean is right. Israel should just sit there and let them murder them. Reopen the borders, just come and kill us right! Wait, we haven't killed as many of you as you have of us, so we should be allowed to murder more jews! Yeah, what a load of crap. If a group of people was sitting and firing rockets at your home, you would be SCREAMING at your government to do something. If they didn't, you'd go out, find a gun and do something yourself.

Honestly, Hamas and the people of Gaza have brought this on themselves. They could choose to stop firing rockets at any time. They could have chosen to support peace, but instead they want to fight. In addition, Hamas wants to hide like rats behind their human shields, rather then fight via the rules of War. Rules that Israel is doing its best to follow. The ones guilty of War Crimes are the Hamas, who hide amongst their people, in order to force Israel to kill civilians to get to the terrorists. 500 casualties after days of fighting? Thats just a joke. If Israel was going all out and being indiscriminate, there would be 10,000 plus casualties already. You should be applauding Israels restraint for there only being 500 dead.
Starviking at 02:48 PM JST - 6th January

Molenir,

collective responsibility, or in this case the 'group punishment' aspect of it is medieval at best. Punishing the whole population of Gaza for the acts of a few is wrong.

You should be applauding Israels restraint for there only being 500 dead.

Really? I find any loss of human life sorrowful, whether it's wilful or accidental.

I will not be applauding casualties in Gaza or Israel. You are free to do what you will.
Molenir at 09:43 PM JST - 6th January

Oh, I agree, any loss of life is tragic, but ya know, the people of gaza chose Hamas. They chose this for themselves, so while I feel sorry for the roughly 120 civilians who have been killed by Israel in addition to the roughly 380 Hamas terrorists, I don't blame Israel for it, I blame Hamas and the people of Gaza who continue to shelter these criminals.
kkoobcam at 09:53 PM JST - 6th January

It is not difficult to stop this conflict. Hamas stops firing rockets in return Israel opens up the borders.