Japan has decided not to recognise a Palestinian state for now, prioritizing its relationship with the United States and avoiding tensions with Israel, according to Asahi Shimbun sources.
Amid recent announcements by Britain, France, Canada, and Australia to recognise Palestine during the UN General Assembly, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to skip a September 22 meeting in New York focused on the two-state solution.
Washington has urged Tokyo through multiple diplomatic channels to refrain from recognition at this stage, while France has pressed Japan to move forward. Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated that Japan is conducting a “comprehensive assessment, including appropriate timing and modalities” regarding Palestinian statehood.
Although Japan is withholding full recognition, it supported a UN declaration calling for “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution, joining 142 other countries in backing the measure. India also voted in favor of this declaration.
