Israel’s ambassador-designate to Japan, Emmanuel Navon, pushed back against demands for his expulsion ahead of planned protests set to take place at the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo Tuesday night amid accusations against Israel of genocide.

“Tonight, a demonstration demanding my expulsion will take place in front of the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo,” he wrote on X alongside a video statement. “To the lie of ‘genocide’ against Israel, I respond like this.”

“Even if you put an X mark on my photo, you cannot erase the history or future of my people,” he said.

“The louder you raise your voices, the higher I will raise my country’s flag,” he added.

“Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live,” he concluded.

In his video statement, Navon hit back against the genocide accusation, noting that even before Israel began its ground offensive, just one day after the Oct. 7 attack, a “sign at a New York rally already declared Zionism is genocide.” He also pointed out that despite Israel’s overwhelming air power, it put its own soldiers at risk, putting boots on the ground to minimize civilian harm.

He also noted the following points that give the lie to the genocide accusation:

• The IDF sent out evacuation notices ahead of airstrikes.
• The military canceled strikes when it found out civilians were in the area.
• Israel paused military operations to facilitate the vaccination of Gaza’s child population against polio.

“So stop talking nonsense,” he said.

“Then comes the perverse inversion: the people who survived the Holocaust and whose enemies still promise their destruction are branded as the new Nazis,” he added. “Hamas’s massacre is excused as resistance. Israel’s fight against Hamas is branded genocide. Nazi propaganda portrayed Jews as a danger whose elimination would redeem the world. Those who promise a better world through Israel’s destruction repeat that poisonous logic.”

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Navon called on the genocide accusers to repent and turn away from hate.

“Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, approaches. It opens the 10 days of repentance, a time to examine our actions, acknowledge wrongdoing, and change course. To those spreading this libel, that means abandoning falsehood and turning away from hatred. Remember the warning of the Bible: Whoever blesses Israel shall be blessed, and whoever curses Israel shall be cursed,” he said.

Navon expressed gratitude for the honor of serving his country and representing Israel to Japan, said that crossing out his photo will not erase Israel, and called down judgment on those who spread lies against Israel.

“I am proud to be Jewish and proud to be Israeli,” he said. “You can cross [out] my photograph, but you cannot erase my people’s history or our future. The louder you shout, the higher I will raise our flag. I carry it with love, with pride, and with unshakable determination … May the new year bring judgment to those who spread lies and hatred against Israel. Shanah Tovah.”

In an interview with an Israel-based outlet, Navon said that the protests were organized by a “a small group of extremists,” but that in general “the Japanese police is fantastic, and we have many supporters in Japan.”

“And our supporters expect from us to show courage and determination,” he added.