Israeli Ambassador to Japan Eli Cohen lodged a protest Friday with the Foreign Ministry over Japan's condemnation of Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin.

"It means you are supporting the leader of Hamas," Cohen told a news conference before conveying his message to Hideaki Domichi, chief of the ministry's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau.

Cohen said the attack was not the "best solution" to end the vicious circle of terror in the Middle East, but added that Israelis were "fed up" with the fact that the Palestinian Authority could not control terrorist attacks.

The embassy has received numerous calls, e-mails and faxes denouncing the assassination Monday of Yassin in Gaza City, as well as messages of support, Cohen said.

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi meanwhile urged her Palestinian counterpart, Nabil Shaath, during a telephone conversation the same day to step up efforts to control extremists.

Shaath said he is working to secure a ceasefire between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, a Japanese official said.