Japanese media: Japan will not recognize the State of Palestine at present

Sources pointed out that Japan will not recognize the State of Palestine at present. This move might be aimed at maintaining relations with the United States and avoiding a tough stance from Israel.

Reuters reported that Japan's Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday (September 17) quoted government sources as saying that Japan will not recognize the State of Palestine at present. The United Nations is scheduled to resume the high-level international conference on the Israel-Palestine solution next Monday (22nd), where leaders of multiple countries will announce the recognition of the State of Palestine. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will not attend the meeting.

Kyodo News Agency of Japan reported last week that the United States urged Japan to give up recognizing the State of Palestine through multiple diplomatic channels, while French Foreign Minister Barro strongly demanded that Japan recognize the State of Palestine.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a press conference on Tuesday (16th) that Japan is "conducting a comprehensive assessment, including the appropriate timing and manner," regarding the issue of recognizing the State of Palestine.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration on Friday (the 12th). This declaration was voted in favor by 142 countries including Japan, opposed by nine countries such as Israel and the United States, and abstained by another 12 countries. The declaration sets out "concrete, time-bound and irreversible steps" for achieving a two-state solution.

Both Japan and the United States are members of the Group of Seven (G7). Among the other members of the G7, officials from Germany and Italy believe that the immediate recognition of the Palestinian State would have the opposite effect.