Arab News Japan
TOKYO: While the administration of President Joe Biden has voiced criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the United States continues to offer military support for Israel’s assaults on Gaza and southern Lebanon.
This hypocrisy needs an answer, an editorial in one of Japan’s leading newspapers stated on Sunday.
“To dispel growing distrust in US diplomacy, the inconsistency between words and actions must be addressed,” the Asahi Shimbun said. “The Middle East, where conflicts continue to escalate, stands on the brink of a crisis. The international community must unite to prevent the situation from developing into an all-out war.”
The newspaper said that Saudi Arabia is calling for a 21-day ceasefire.
The Asahi noted the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the growing death toll in Lebanon that results in casualties among women and children. “No matter how much Israel emphasizes that ‘the enemy is Hezbollah, not Lebanon, ‘mistrust and resentment among the people are bound to grow,” the Asahi said, while doubting that Israel’s actions in Lebanon will have a lasting effect on the conflict.
“The fighting between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas, which started in Gaza in October last year, shows no signs of ending. If the conflict spills over into Lebanon, it could become a catastrophe involving the entire Middle East.”
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, wants to guarantee security for the 60,000 Israelis who live near southern Lebanon, but, the Asahi notes, “relying solely on military power will likely deepen the crisis and further destabilize the border. It is clear that even after continuing military operations that have resulted in over 41,000 deaths in Gaza, Israel has not achieved its goals of destroying Hamas or freeing hostages.”