Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi commented on a report quoting Japan’s Ambassador to Palestine that Japan could recognize Palestine as a state soon.

Ambassador NAKASHIMA Yoichi reportedly told Palestine TV, “The international community is convinced that there is no solution except for the existence of two nations, Palestine and Israel.” He indicated that Japan is “planning to recognize the state of Palestine” and giving indirectly the impression that this recognition is coming soon.

However, Iwaya – Nakashima’s boss – told Arab News Japan at his regular press conference on Friday that recognizing Palestine would rely on the progress of the “two-state solution.”

“Japan has always said it supports the two-state solution reached through the parties’ negotiation,” Iwaya said. “We understand the desire of the Palestinians to set up their independent state and, until now, we have been supporting Palestine’s efforts to that end.”

“In terms of recognition as a state, the peace process and how that will progress needs to be taken into consideration and the judgment needs to be based on that,” Iwaya clarified.

We would like to make great efforts to progress the peace process. Based on that, we would like to consider the timing for the recognition of a state.”

Increasing Palestinian officials have been saying openly that the peace process has failed. At the same time, most current Israeli leaders are stating that they oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state.