Latest news with #Gilad
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Israel disappointed by Ghana's neutral stance on Iran's nuclear compliance vote
The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Roey Gilad, has voiced disappointment over Ghana's decision to abstain from a vote in Vienna on whether Iran is complying with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. Nineteen of the 35 countries on the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted for the motion, which was backed by the US, UK, France and Germany. Diplomats said three countries - Russia, China and Burkina Faso - voted against the resolution at the IAEA board's meeting in Vienna. Eleven others abstained and two did not vote. Ambassador Gilad acknowledged Ghana's sovereignty and non-aligned stance but urged a re-evaluation of its foreign policy direction in light of shifting global dynamics. While recognizing the long-standing ties between Ghana and Israel, the ambassador noted that despite lobbying for Ghana's support, the country abstained, likely influenced by the African Union, which he suggested is itself guided by the Arab League's position. 'It's important to be balanced on global issues,' he said, encouraging Ghana to adopt a more independent foreign policy, separate from AU or Non-Aligned Movement influences. Nevertheless, he respected Ghana's sovereign choice. He stressed the strength of Ghana-Israel relations, the ambassador pointed to Israel's support in sectors like agriculture and the symbolic gestures of solidarity seen among Ghanaians, such as fishermen flying Israeli flags on their canoes. Iran faces scrutiny over nuclear activities Israel considers Iran's non-compliance with IAEA standards a serious matter, describing Iran as an existential threat to Israel. The IAEA passed a resolution last Thursday, its first in two decades, declaring Iran non-compliant with its nuclear obligations. This comes after a report by the IAEA last week that criticized Iran for a 'general lack of cooperation' and revealed the country had stockpiled enough uranium enriched to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade levels, to potentially produce nine nuclear bombs. Iran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes and denies any intention to develop or acquire nuclear weapons. It condemned the resolution as "political" and said it would open a new enrichment facility. On Friday, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles in retaliation for Israel's earlier strikes on Tehran. Earlier in the day, Israel had carried out a series of intense attacks targeting key sites within Iran's nuclear and military infrastructure.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli tourist was asked to sign war crimes declaration while visiting Kyoto
April 27 (UPI) -- A hotel in the Japanese city of Kyoto asked an Israeli traveler who had served in the Israeli Defense Forces to voluntarily sign a declaration asserting that he had not committed any war crimes during his time in the military. The Wind Villa Guesthouse shared on social media a copy of the form it asked the former Israeli Navy fighter to sign last week, noting that the business was later visited by officials in Kyoto who inquired about the incident after a complaint from the Israeli Embassy. "The city official also told us that the city's staff had been told that the pledge was discriminatory against Israelis. The city official also asked whether Israelis are the only ones who are required to fill out the form," the hotel owners said. "We ask all guests who may have committed war crimes to sign a pledge. It is not discriminatory because it is not intended only for Israelis." The hotel asserted that Israel is a garrison state with mandatory military conscription at the age of 18 for nearly all its Jewish citizens. It added that "cannot be ignored" that Israeli men may have been involved in military operations since October 7, 2023. "The pledge refers only to acts of war crimes and does not call for disapproval of military operations," the hotel said in its statement. "Since international humanitarian law must be observed by everyone, regardless of nationality, we believe that all human beings retain the right to affirm their non-involvement in war crimes." The hotel said that up until the most recent guest, no others had refused to fill out the form. It did not disclose exactly how many people had been asked to sign it. "Just because the Israeli Embassy claims this is discrimination, the Japanese administration should not uncritically accept it and put pressure on its own citizens, but should examine both sides' claims neutrally and fairly, and make its own judgment," it said. Days after the initial post, the hotel published a letter purporting to be from Gilad Cohen, Israel's ambassador to Japan. In it, Cohen called the incident "deeply troubling" and said it "raises serious concerns about discriminatory practices" at the hotel. "This discriminatory act, based solely on nationality, caused the guest significant emotional distress and discomfort. We view this incident as highly serious and unacceptable," Gilad purportedly said in the letter. "Singling out individuals in this manner stands in clear violation of Japan's Hotel Business Law and of the values of equality and non-discrimination that we believe are shared by our two nations." Gilad asked for the hotel to make "sincere" efforts to deliver an apology to the guest. The hotel said Saturday that a response to the Israeli Embassy is currently being prepared. The news was confirmed Saturday in a report from the Israeli newspaper Ynet, which spoke to the Israeli traveler. "The clerk handed me this form and told me that without signing it, I wouldn't be allowed to check in," the man, who served as a combat medic, told the newspaper. "It's ridiculous and absurd. I told him we don't kill women and children. Why would we do that?" Last year, another Kyoto hotel operator issued an apology after it refused to let an Israeli man stay at the hotel.
