Arab News Japan

TOKYO: KONO Taro, a former foreign minister and one of Japan’s most popular politicians, said that Japan should have been the first G7 country to recognize Palestine.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Kono, who has held several government posts, said he talked to former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo about recognizing the State of Palestine.

“(Late Prime Minister) Abe said he wasn’t really against that, but that the timing should be right,” Kono said. “I think Japan should have been the first government among the G7 nations to recognize the State of Palestine because Japan is the only G7 country that is not based on a Christian civilization.”

Kono pointed out that in addition to having no connection to religions in the region, Japan also has no colonial history in the Middle East. “We should have been the first government to recognize the State of Palestine, but now we are missing the bus, and I really regret it.”

Kono helped organize a petition among Japanese MPs and secured 146 signatures to recognize the State of Palestine. The petition was given to the foreign minister for onward transmission to the prime minister, but it has not had the desired result.

“It’s a shame,” Kono said. “We missed the bus again.”