Japan’s former Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori has left the country for a six-day visit to Israel. He plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and ask him to steadily implement a peace plan in the Gaza Strip.
Onodera is a lawmaker in the Liberal Democratic Party. The LDP is the main party in the ruling coalition. He is currently the chairperson of the LDP’s Research Commission on Security.
He and other members of the commission departed from Narita Airport on a plane bound for Israel shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday.
Onodera plans to meet with Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and other Israeli officials. He wants to discuss the situation in Gaza and other issues with them. A ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic group Hamas took effect almost three months ago.
During his visit, Onodera will also examine a missile defense system as well as AI and military cyber technology.
He said that he hopes the information gleaned from the inspections will be able to be used when Japan’s three national security documents are revised.
Before he left Japan, Onodera told reporters that he hopes the ceasefire in Gaza will be thoroughly honored. He noted that armed clashes have been occurring there sporadically, despite the ceasefire agreement.
He added that he wants to exchange opinions with Israeli officials about what role Japan can play in efforts to reconstruct the enclave.