Speech at Japanese Protest against Israel

(This Write-up is in English but speech is in Japanese.) In our Press Conference at Japan Press Center yesteerday on January 9, a Japanese journalist asked a question as to how there can be peace unless Palestinians stop firing rockets at Israel? l Jimmy Carter , a former US President says that during the last several years of rocket-firing, only 4 people have died in Israel, whereas Israel has killed more than 750 civilians, mostly women and children during the last 13 days of war. l UN observer Richard Falk says that Israel blockaded Gaza for 18 months, which prompted Palestinans to fire rockets. l He further says that even during the 6-month of Egypt-brokered cease-fire, only 20% of the food requirements of Gazans was allowed to enter Gaza. l He further says that Hamas offered 10-year truce and cease-fire and no firing of rockets, but Israel rejected it and says it prepared for this war for the last 1-year. l Palestinians have been deprived of their country since 1948 by force of Israeli arms and by the support of US and Britain. They have a right to fight back to get back their country. Some historic background of Zionism, as to how Palestinians have been deprived of their homes and of their country. l Israel has been killing Palestians during the last 60 years of its existence. It is like beating a cat�fs child by a strong stick and if it tries to react, it is called terrorism of Palestinians. l All parties, including Israel, Palestinans, Arabs, US and UN have agreed to a 2-state solutions but Israel has built-up settlements for 500,000 Jews in the Occupied Territories since 1967. It has no intention to promote this consensus by going back to 1967 borders, even though it has theoretically agreed to it but not ready to take any practical steps for the solution. l World is tired of war. Israel should implement above long-term negotiated solution of this problem. Thanks and Regards, On behalf of PALESTINE COMMITTEE, TOKYO, JAPAN Hussain Khan, Tokyo End Item/ 129