Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Killing in East

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SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - KILLING IN EAST
JERUSALEM

1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning include
the police finding that two senior DPRK spy agency
officials close to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il
appear to have instructed agents in or around 1978 to
abduct two Japanese couples who were repatriated in
2003.

2. "Cycle of Retaliation Must Be Stopped" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (3/11): "The recent
shooting at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem was the
latest tragic event for Israel. Right-wingers in the
Olmert administration are bound to intensify their
opposition to peace talks. However, Israel is urged to
exhibit restraint in order to avoid a cycle of
retaliation. It should not do anything to make the
situation in Gaza more desperate.... President Bush
released a statement supportive of Israel's
retaliation, calling it self-defense. Acts of terrorism
should indeed be denounced. But the use of force by
Israel, while it maintains an economic blockade,
carries the risk of merely reinforcing Gaza residents'
support for armed struggle by Hamas. The UN Security
Council refrained from adopting a resolution condemning
the killing by noting that Israeli attacks on Gaza
residents are equally worthy of condemnation. In order
to win international sympathy, Hamas needs to change
its strategy. Finding a path to Middle East peace is
not an easy task. The Palestinians and Israelis,
however, have no choice but to look toward
coexistence."

SCHIEFFER

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