EDITORIAL: Israel stands accused

Once again, naked aggression by Israel has given rise to tragedy. Israeli commandos attacked an aid flotilla on the high seas that was trying to get around an Israeli blockade of Gaza, which is gripped by a humanitarian crisis.

The seizure and shooting Monday on the Gaza-bound flotilla carrying relief goods and medical supplies claimed nine lives and left many others injured. Many of the fatalities were human rights activists.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was in self-defense. But the attack was carried out by fully armed troops against civilians from Turkey and Europe. The prime minister's explanation is unacceptable.

As to be expected, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting and issued a presidential statement in which it expressed "deep regret at the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation early on Monday in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza."

Anti-Israel sentiment is growing across the Arab world and in other Muslim countries as well as Turkey. The United States must waste no time in taking steps to settle the crisis. It can do that by exerting its influence over Israel. Otherwise, indirect U.S.-mediated negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians will fall apart.

Traditionally, Turkey has maintained friendly relations with Israel. It reached out to Syria and Iran in an attempt to mend strained ties with Israel, Europe and the United States.

Something must be done to defuse the crisis. Otherwise, efforts to bring stability to the Middle East will suffer a serious setback.

The presidential statement expressed "grave concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza" caused by the blockade imposed since 2007.

The blockade has drawn strong criticism because of suspicions it amounts to collective punishment, which is banned by international law. The blockade has prevented vital supplies and services from getting through. This, critics say, ignores a provision that occupied territories should not be penalized in this way.

Over a three-week period from late 2008, Israeli forces mounted a military offensive against the Gaza Strip that claimed more than 1,400 Palestinian lives, many of them civilians.

In order to cut the chain of violence and bloodshed in the Middle East, Israel, with its overwhelming military force, must be made to follow international rules. It is the role of the U.N. Security Council to demand that Israel does so. As a first step, we urge the council to find out what precisely happened.

Moves to condemn Israel are also spreading among U.S. allies. British Prime Minister David Cameron called Israel's acts "completely unacceptable." Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called Netanyahu and requested a third-party investigation to uncover the truth.

Japan's Foreign Ministry also issued a statement expressing regret for the loss of life. Apparently out of consideration for the United States, the tone is not as strong as the Security Council's presidential statement.

Japan relies on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its imports of crude oil. Without any prospect for Palestinian peace, there is a danger that nuclear nonproliferation could be threatened and moves to abolish nuclear weapons will come to a standstill. Under the circumstances, Japanese aid to the Palestinians is not being used effectively.

We urge the government to respond with more sensitivity to each problem that threatens Middle East peace and act accordingly. The region is of fundamental importance to Japan's diplomacy.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 4