Tokyo pitches its \u2018unique\u2019 role in the Middle East toward a two-state solution amid Israel\u2019s war on Gaza
\n Tokyo
\nTokyo will consider recognising an independent state of Palestine in a \u201ccomprehensive manner,\u201d Japanese officials told Anadolu, pitching Tokyo\u2019s \u201cunique\u201d role to move toward a two-state solution in the Middle East.
\nJapan does not recognise Palestine as an independent state but hosts the semi-status diplomatic mission, known as the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Tokyo.
\nThe diplomatic mission representing the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) government opened in 1977, and is headed by Ambassador Waleed Siam, who had told Anadolu that Japan is \u201cnow studying seriously, and also South Korea, recognising the state of Palestine.\u201d
\n\u201cThey know that recognising the state of Palestine does not hinder future peace talks between us and Israelis,\u201d Siam said in a virtual interview early this month.
\n\u201cJapan continues to support a \u2018two-state solution\u2019 through negotiations between the parties,\u201d Foreign Ministry officials told Anadolu in an email interview on Wednesday.
\nTokyo would like to \u201ccontribute to the progress of the peace process by making the most effective use of the unique position Japan has established in the Middle East region,\u201d said the officials through the International Press Division of the ministry.
\nJapan\u2019s pitch to play its role in the Middle East comes amid a growing number of Western nations, including Spain and Norway, as well as Ireland, recognising Palestine as an independent state.
\nThe only country hit by nuclear bombing during World War II is also witnessing an apparent change in public discourse about Palestine with regular events and protest demonstrations held to press for a cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
\nIn a path-breaking move, the historic city of Nagasaki, hit by a US nuclear bomb in World War II, refused to invite Israeli officials to its commemoration event this month. However, Japan enjoys health relations with Israel, while its former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama was the first chief executive to visit the occupied West Bank in 1995.
\nInaugural PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat first visited Japan in October 1981, and later he paid four additional visits between 1996 and 2000.
\nTokyo understands aspirations of Palestinians for an independent state
\nThe ministry officials acknowledged the growing demand for an independent state of Palestine.
\n\u201cJapan has consistently supported a \u2018two-state solution\u2019 through negotiations between the parties, understands the Palestinian people\u2019s aspirations for the establishment of an independent state, and has supported Palestinian efforts toward this goal,\u201d they said.
\nHowever, the officials refrained from disclosing any internal study of the Japanese government regarding Palestine.
\n\u201cJapan will continue to consider the future recognition of Palestine as a state in a comprehensive manner, taking into account how to advance the peace process,\u201d they added.
\nTokyo recognises that Palestine is qualified for UN membership
\nRecognising that Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations, Japan voted in favour of the UN Security Council resolution regarding the full membership on April 18, the ministry officials recalled.
\nThey added that Japan again voted in May in favour of the UN General Assembly resolution recommending the Security Council to reconsider Palestine\u2019s UN membership and granting Palestine additional rights in the General Assembly as a UN observer, which was adopted by a majority vote.
\nJapan shipped aid worth $125M to Palestine since Oct. 7 last year
\nOne of the leading humanitarian aid providers to Palestine, Tokyo shipped aid worth $125 million since last October, the officials said.
\n\u201cWe will continuously consider our support in a speedy manner based on local needs,\u201d said the Japanese Foreign Ministry officials.
\nTokyo\u2019s statement came on a day when 19 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, local sources said on Wednesday.
\nAt least 13 victims were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah from strikes on homes in the Nuseirat and al-Maghazi refugee camps, according to a medical source.
\nThe Palestinian Civil Defence reported four fatalities from an apartment in Hamad City, western Khan Younis, struck by Israeli warplanes.
\nIn Rafah, the Israeli army demolished entire residential areas in the Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, witnesses told Anadolu.
\nIn the northern Gaza Strip, two Palestinians were killed and five injured when an Israeli drone hit a home in Beit Lahia, a medical source from Kamal Adwan Hospital said.
\nThe ongoing Israeli offensive, following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, has faced international criticism for violating a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. The conflict has resulted in over 39,900 deaths and more than 92,000 injuries, according to local health authorities.
\nThe International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and ordered a halt to its military operations in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge before the city was invaded on May 6.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tokyo pitches its \u2018unique\u2019 role in the Middle East toward a two-state solution amid Israel\u2019s war on Gaza Tokyo Tokyo will consider recognising an independent state of Palestine in a \u201ccomprehensive manner,\u201d Japanese officials told Anadolu, pitching Tokyo\u2019s \u201cunique\u201d role to move toward a two-state solution in the Middle East. Japan does not recognise Palestine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":424963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-424961","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n