Israel's ambassador to Japan protests TV commentator's antisemitic remarksTV commentator's antisemitic remarks on Kushner
Israel's ambassador to Japan, Gilad Cohen, sent a formal letter to TV Asahi on April 14, 2026, protesting remarks by commentator Toru Tamagawa. On a Friday broadcast, Tamagawa suggested Jared Kushner, a Jewish member of US President Donald Trump's family, should not join negotiations with Iran due to his identity. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre also condemned the comments as antisemitic.
The protest highlights tensions over Kushner's role as a Trump envoy in weekend talks in Islamabad with Vice-President J.D. Vance and Steve Witkoff to end the US-Israel-Iran war. TV Asahi defended its segment, but the incident draws attention to sensitivities around Jewish involvement in Middle East diplomacy amid ongoing conflict.
- Japan's capital Tokyo hosts the largest Jewish community in the country, with around 1,000-2,000 members.
- The Abraham Accords Kushner helped broker in 2020 expanded to include Sudan and Morocco after UAE and Bahrain.
- TV Asahi's anime hits like Dragon Ball Z have shaped global pop culture since the 1980s.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
