UNITED NATIONS, United States: Japan’s prime minister told the United Nations that Tokyo’s recognition of the State of Palestine was only a question of time, saying he was “indignant” at recent comments by Israeli officials.
Nearly 80 per cent of UN members recognize the State of Palestine, with a string of countries including Britain, Canada, and France adding their names this week after nearly two years of war in Gaza, according to AFP.
“I feel strongly indignant at the statements made by senior Israeli government officials that appear to categorically reject the very notion of Palestinian state-building,” Shigeru Ishiba said.
“For our country, the question is not whether to recognize a Palestinian state, but when. The continued unilateral actions by the government of Israel can never be accepted,” he said.
Massacre
“I must state clearly that if further actions are taken that obstruct the realization of a two-state solution, Japan will be compelled to take new measures in response,” he added.The latest moves to recognize Palestine follow the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which was sparked by the Palestinian Hamas’s unprecedented attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.Under President Donald Trump, Washington has argued that recognition is effectively rewarding Hamas for the attack.Over nearly two years since then, the Israeli military has killed 65,382 Palestinians, mostly civilians, says the health ministry in Gaza, figures the UN considers reliable.
Responsible member
Japan, a member of the G7, is a close ally of the United States and hosts some 54,000 US military personnel.
Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea and Singapore have also stopped short of recognizing Palestine as a state.
Ishiba said that the “terror inflicted by Hamas and the devastation in Gaza we are witnessing today have left many feeling deeply saddened.”
“What matters the most is that Palestine can exist in a sustainable manner, living side by side in peace with Israel,” Ishiba said.
“As we invite Palestine to assume its role as a responsible member of the international community. The Palestinian side must establish a system of governance that ensures accountability,” he added.
