The Palestinian ambassador to Tokyo, Waleed Siam, has called on the Japanese government to recognize the state of Palestine, emphasizing that Japan’s support “is crucial to our cause,” according to Arab News.
Siam noted that Japan’s potential recognition of Palestine would be a courageous step —a move that would deeply inspire the Palestinian people.
“It reflects a commitment to justice and offers a hopeful message for peace and respect for international law,” he said.
The Palestinian community, he added, would deeply value such a stance from Japan and looks forward to boosting bilateral ties and long-term cooperation between both nations.
Notably, Siam’s remarks come at a crucial time as the world awaits a significant conference on September 22, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, on the recognition of the Palestinian state.
Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and Belgium are set to recognize the state of Palestine during the UN General Assembly as a way to pressure Israel to halt its aggression against Palestinians and allow humanitarian aids into Gaza.
Currently, the Japanese government is in the final stages of discussions about recognizing the state of Palestine.
However, the US has urged Japan not to take such a step at the UN General Assembly later this month, according to diplomatic sources.
“The United States has communicated to Japan its opposition to recognizing a Palestinian state through various diplomatic channels, arguing that such recognition would exacerbate the situation and urging Tokyo to align with Washington,” Kyodo News reported.
In the contrary, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya to recognize the state.
Declaration on Two-State Solution
On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a declaration urging “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps” toward achieving a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, according to Reuters.
The declaration, which consists of seven pages, stems from an international conference held at the UN in July to address the decades-long conflict.
The declaration won sweeping support at the UN General Assembly, obtaining 142 votes in favor, with only 10 opposed and 12 abstentions.
All Gulf Arab states supported the resolution. However, Israel, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Tonga voted against it.
The resolution also affirmed the necessity ending Gaza War and the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the UN Security Council.
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