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 hewasn’treally against that, butthat the timing should be right,” Kono said. “I think Japan should have been the first governmentamong the G7 nationsto recognize the State of Palestine because Japan istheonlyG7countrythatis not basedon a Christiancivilization.”

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

Kono helped organize a petition amongJapanese MPs and secured 146signaturesto 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 busagain.”