Netanyahu to Japanese PM: Israel stands behind you

PM offers "any assistance" to earthquake-ravaged country, expresses "deep sorrow" over recent events, says Israel prepared to send aid.

By HERB KEINON
Netanyahu 311 reuters (photo credit: Reuters)
Netanyahu 311 reuters
(photo credit: Reuters)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu offered Japan “any assistance” it needs in a letter he wrote Wednesday to his Japanese counterpart, Naoto Kan.
“I want to express to the Japanese people our deep sorrow as a result of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country and claimed a heavy toll in human life,” Netanyahu wrote.
RELATED:Japan: Number of dead over 4,000; over 9,000 missing Snow piles more misery on Japan's devastated northeast WHO says no evidence of radiation spread from Japan The prime minister added that Israel was prepared to “help to the best of its ability” and immediately send rescue teams, medical teams, experts in identifying bodies, water purification facilities and any assistance asked for to the disaster area.
“The citizens of Israel stand beside you at this difficult time,” he wrote. “I have no doubt that the strength and heroism displayed by the Japanese people will help overcome this terrible tragedy.”
Israel offered Japan assistance immediately after the earthquake, but so far Tokyo has requested nothing.
Minister of National Infrastructures Uzi Landau said Israel’s two nuclear facilities were secure and did not face the same challenges as those in Japan.
“We can feel completely secure in the way they were built, in the way we follow security procedures, and certainly in the professionalism of the people who are responsible for them,” Landau said in a interview today with Army Radio.
Landau added that Israel was not prone to earthquakes of the same magnitude and frequency as Japan.

Bloomberg contributed to this report.