PM Benjamin Netanyahu greets Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Jerusalem last month. (Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)

In a condolence letter to PM Shinzo Abe on the murder of a second Japanese hostage, Netanyahu underscored their respective countries’ shared destiny in the fight against Islamic terror.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter of condolence to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday following the brutal murder of two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State (ISIS) terror organization.

Addressing the Japanese leader as “Dear friend,” Netanyahu asked him to “accept my sincere condolences in light of the tragic deaths of Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto.”

“Such deplorable acts of murder on the part of ISIS are a chilling reminder of the need for a united and uncompromising battle of all free countries against Islamist terror, rampant in the Middle East and throughout the world,” Netanyahu said.

“Please express my deepest condolences to the victims’ families. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and with the Japanese nation in such trying times,” he concluded.

The terrorists beheaded Yukawa last week, and Goto over the weekend, saying it was in revenge for Japan’s role in fighting Islamic State.

Abe happened to be visiting Israel when the crisis broke out towards the end of January. He cut his trip short and returned to Japan to deal with the hostage crisis.

The Japanese prime minister expressed outrage following the murder of Japanese citizens. “I feel indignation over this immoral and heinous act of terrorism,” he told reporters after convening an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Japan Will Not Submit to Terrorists

“When I think of the grief of his [ Goto’s] family, I am left without words,” he said. “The government has been doing its utmost in responding to win his release, and we are filled with deep regrets.”

He vowed that Japan will not give in to terrorism and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to countries fighting ISIS. Japan recently pledged $200 million to the fight against ISIS.

By: Aryeh Savir
Staff Writer, United with Israel