Japan will not acknowledge a Palestinian state at the moment, is likely to remain on good terms with America, and will prevent an escalation of Israeli tensions, Japanese newspaper, Asahi, reported on Wednesday.
Britain, France, Canada, and Australia are among other governments that have indicated that they will recognize a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly this month, further mounting pressure on Israel because of its activities in the territory.
According to Asahi, “Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to skip a September 22 meeting on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, which will be held during the U.N. gathering in New York.”
According to the Kyodo news agency, last week, the U.S. urged Japan through diplomatic channels not to recognize the possibility of a Palestinian state. Additionally, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot strongly encouraged his Japanese counterpart to do the same.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated at a news briefing that Japan is still considering the appropriate timing and procedures for recognizing Palestinian statehood.
On Friday, at a U.N. meeting, Japan voted in support of a declaration by 142 states that outlined “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps.”
German and Italian officials in the Group of Seven nations have described an immediate recognition of Palestine as “counterproductive.”
