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Asahi Shimbun
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Kyoto lodging asks Israeli guest if he committed war crimes
KYOTO—A lodging facility in Kyoto has drawn a protest from the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo for asking an Israeli man to sign a pledge that he had never been involved in war crimes. The Israeli Embassy called it 'discriminatory' and demanded that both the Kyoto prefectural and city governments prevent the recurrence of such a situation. However, the facility said it will continue to ask guests with military-related backgrounds to sign the pledge, based on its philosophy of not tolerating war crimes. Israel has been engaged in a military conflict with Hamas-led Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and Israel since October 2023. 'GREAT EMOTIONAL STRESS' CAUSED According to sources, in mid-April, an Israeli man checked in at a guesthouse in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward and was asked to sign a form titled, "Pledge of Non-Involvement in War Crimes." The man was puzzled, but signed it and stayed at the facility for four nights, according to sources. The Israeli Eembassy learned of the incident, and in late April, sent a letter under the name of Gilad Cohen, the Ambassador of Israel to Japan, to Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki. Calling the incident discriminatory, causing great emotional distress and unacceptable, the embassy asked for an investigation by the prefectural government. After being contacted by the prefectural government, the Kyoto city government conducted an interview with the guesthouse. The city determined that signing the pledge is voluntary and does not violate the Hotel Business Law, which prohibits the refusal to accommodate guests except under certain circumstances. However, the city told the guesthouse that some people may feel it is discriminatory and inappropriate. Subsequently, in early May, the embassy sent a letter to Kyoto Mayor Koji Matsui, requesting a reinvestigation and appropriate measures be taken. In the letter, Cohen stated that the guesthouse's action is inconsistent with the spirit of Japan's 'omotenashi' hospitality, demanding the city take necessary measures to prevent it from happening again. The city government said it is considering its future response. Furthermore, Cohen on May 10 posted a statement on his X account, saying that he is 'deeply concerned.' 'This is a blatant act of discrimination against Israeli citizens and an unacceptable attempt to equate them with war criminals," he said. NOT JUST ISRAELI GUESTS SINGLED OUT In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, the manager of the guesthouse said the facility has been asking some of their guests to sign the pledge for about six months. The guests asked to sign the pledge are those who are from 10 countries and regions—including Israel, Palestine, Russia and Syria—and have served in the military in the past 10 years. The manager said the facility determines which guests are eligible based on the decisions of the International Criminal Court and U.N. agencies. As to why, the manager cited its philosophy of not tolerating war crimes, as well as 'to ensure the safety and security of other guests and staff due to the nature of the facility, which has many shared rooms.' The manager said that even if guests refuse to sign the pledge, the facility will not refuse to accommodate them, and that it has never had anyone refuse to sign it, and that it has never refused to accommodate their guests. The manager stated that the guesthouse will continue to ask for signatures. 2ND SUCH INCIDENT IN LESS THAN A YEAR In June 2024, the Kyoto city government issued administrative guidance to the management company of a hotel in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward for violating the Hotel Business Law after the facility refused to accommodate an Israeli man because he might belong to the Israeli military. The Israeli Embassy also protested at that time, calling the incident discriminatory and unacceptable. (This article was written by Rika Hayashi and Miu Yamada.)
Tokyo Weekender
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Tokyo Weekender
Israeli Tourist Required To Sign War Crimes Declaration at Kyoto Guesthouse
An Israeli tourist got a shock this week while checking in at a hotel in Kyoto. A former combat medic in the Navy reserves, he was asked to sign a declaration denying involvement in war crimes during his military service. The incident occurred at Guesthouse Wind Villa in the city's Higashiyama district on Saturday. According to the visitor, he was handed the form after presenting his passport at reception. He was then told he wouldn't be able to check in if he didn't sign the declaration. He initially refused but eventually relented when the hotel employee informed him that all guests from Israel and Russia were required to sign it. 'It's ridiculous and absurd,' he said . 'I told him we don't kill women and children. Why would we do that?' 'In the end, I decided to sign it because I have nothing to hide. The statement is true — I did not commit any war crimes, and Israeli soldiers do not commit war crimes. I signed because I didn't want to create problems, and because this form means nothing.' List of Contents: Hotel Manager Defends War Crimes Declaration Document Israeli Tourist Refused Accommodation at Kyoto Hotel in 2024 Related Posts Hotel Manager Defends War Crimes Declaration Document In response, the hotel manager said , 'I don't think it is ridiculous. It is mandatory to serve in the army in your country. Since Israel launched a military operation in Gaza in October 2023, we do not know who may have been involved, as young Israelis are required to serve in the army. We cannot distinguish between our guests. In any case, we believe we have the right to ensure who we are hosting in our hotel. This step was also intended to guarantee our safety.' Unsurprisingly, Gilad Cohen, the Israeli ambassador to Japan, saw things differently. He penned a strongly worded letter to Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki. 'This discriminatory act, based solely on nationality, caused the guest significant emotional distress and discomfort,' he wrote. 'We view this incident as extremely serious and unacceptable. It constitutes a blatant violation of Japan's Hotel Business Law and the values of equality and non-discrimination that we believe are shared by our two nations. Particularly concerning is the fact that this does not appear to be an isolated case.' Israeli Tourist Refused Accommodation at Kyoto Hotel in 2024 In June of last year, an employee at Hotel Material, also in Kyoto's Higashiyama ward, refused accommodation to an Israeli man, citing his possible involvement in the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The hotel was instructed by the city that it had violated a law that prohibits facilities from refusing to accommodate visitors except under special circumstances. At a press conference, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa described the hotel's actions as 'unacceptable.' She added, 'We hope all visitors to Japan will be able to engage in various activities in Japan feeling secure.' The employee involved was fired. Related Posts Japan One of Four Nations To Reject Russia's Resolution for Gaza Ceasefire US and Other Western Ambassadors To Skip Nagasaki Peace Ceremony Due to Israel Snub Japanese Company Itochu To Cut Ties with Israeli Weapons Firm
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.
Morocco World
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Israeli Tourist Asked to Deny War-Crimes in Japan
Israeli media reported Yesterday, that an Israeli tourist was 'forced' to sign a form declaring that he did not take part in war crimes committed by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) upon checking into a hotel in Kyoto, Japan. According to the reports, the Israeli tourist was asked to sign the form when presenting his Israeli passport to the Wind Villa Hotel staff, or face refusal of service. The tourist, who served as a 'combat medic' in the Israeli navy, stated that the form contained sections on rape, the murder of people raising a white flag, and the committing of war crimes — practices that are well-documented and known actions of Israel. 'I have never planned, ordered, aided, abetted, or incited war crimes, nor have I participated in such acts. I pledge to continue complying with international law and humanitarian law and never to engage in war crimes in any form,' read the document. Nothing to hide? 'This is absurd and ridiculous. I told him that we do not kill women and children, why would we do that?' said the Israeli, whose role as a 'combat medic' means he also participated in field operations. After the tourist refused to sign the document and told the hotel clerk that he wasn't interested in 'getting into politics,' the hotel employee clarified that signing the form was mandatory for every Israeli and Russian guest. The Israeli tourist eventually signed the form, declaring that he had nothing to hide, saying: 'I did not commit war crimes, and no IDF soldier commits war crimes.' He later referred the matter to the Israeli Ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, who wrote a letter to Kyoto Prefecture Governor Takatoshi Nishwaki, complaining about the 'discriminatory practices.' Cohen argued that the form was requested 'based solely on nationality,' causing significant emotional distress and discomfort to the Israeli tourist. The incident violated Japan's Hotel Business Law and the values of 'equality and non-discrimination shared between Israel and Japan,' the ambassador claimed, adding that this was not an isolated incident. While Israeli officials and supporters lament the alleged 'discrimination,' many others have welcomed the hotel's stance, considering it a reasonable policy that should be adopted worldwide. Commentators noted that the form would have been discriminatory if it had been applied to a Jewish person from any country other than Israel, but the mere need for the form speaks volumes about a nation built on ethnic cleansing and the displacement of Palestinians. Israel upholds mandatory military service for most of its citizens from the age of 18, with men serving 32 months in active duty and women about 24 months. After this, Israelis enter reserve duty until their 40s, where they can be called to participate in military actions against Palestinians. A well-documented genocidal campaign in Gaza In addition to being a settler apartheid state since 1948, Israel has been carrying out an 18-month genocide that has killed a minimum estimate of over 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with thousands still missing under the rubble of civilian infrastructure destroyed by the entity. As of March 22, the breakdown of the 50,000 figure includes 15,613 children, 8,304 women, 3,839 elderly, and 22,265 men. Of the children killed by the IOF, 825 were under 12 months old, and 274 children were born and killed during Israel's genocide. The World Health Organization reported that a quarter of the people injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza — estimated at 22,500 by July 2024 — have life-altering injuries that require but are not receiving rehabilitation, with severe limb injuries being the main type of injury needing care. A United Nations report published in March 2025 by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that Israel committed systematic sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians during its assault on Gaza. The 49-page report details the destruction of reproductive health centers and targeted attacks on maternity wards, actions identified as aiming to prevent Palestinian births, fitting the legal definition of genocide. It also documents sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, including forced nudity and physical assaults, showing these abuses as part of standard IOF practices. Such reports represent just the tip of the iceberg of Israelis crimes with much more documented since the establishment of the entity but especially since Palestinians in Gaza were forced to document their own annihilation since October 2023. Israel renewed its blockade on Gaza on March 2, during the month of Ramadan, with no fresh food, water, or medicine entering the enclave for almost two months. This pushed the 2.1 million people on the brink of mass death, famine, and malnutrition — adding to Israel's long history of using humanitarian aid as a weapon of war. The UN World Food Programme announced earlier this week that it has completely run out of food aid in Gaza, forcing it to shut down food aid operations across the strip until the siege is lifted. Rather than pointing to 'discrimination,' the Israeli tourist's outrage towards the Kyoto hotel rather exposes Israel and its nationals sense of immunity and disregard for Palestinian lives, raising the critical question: why are citizens complicit in such atrocities still allowed to travel freely in the first place? Tags: IOFIsraelIsrael and PalestineIsrael war crimesJapan
