News Israel’s ambassador not invited to Nagasaki peace ceremony

Kazumi Matsui, the mayor of Hiroshima, stated today during the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony that he wondered whether the current state of the world was deepening doubt and suspicion among nations and leading the public to believe that resorting to force is necessary to resolve international problems. He emphasized that a breakthrough is possible in the present critical situation if world leaders engage in talks with steadfast determination. Quoting former Soviet Union president Mikhail Gorbachev, who played a crucial role in ending the Cold War alongside his U.S. counterpart Ronald Reagan, Matsui said, "We need peace."

While the Israeli envoy was welcome at today's ceremony, the mayor of Nagasaki, Suzuki Shiro, decided to disinvite the Israeli representative, along with the Russian and Belarusian representatives in Japan.

Israel's envoy to Japan has hit out at authorities in Nagasaki after they declined to invite him to a peace ceremony commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing of the city, accusing the local mayor of "inventing" security fears. The decision by Nagasaki contrasts with that of Hiroshima, which will host its ceremony on Tuesday and invite Israel. Both cities had been under pressure from activists and bomb survivor groups to exclude Israel due to its bombardment of Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since Israel began targeting militant group Hamas following the 7 October attack. Russia and Belarus have both been disinvited over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and campaigners had hoped Nagasaki and Hiroshima - which both suffered the horror unleashed by nuclear weapons at the end of World War II – would do the same.

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Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki clarified last week that Israel's absence from the upcoming memorial on Friday is due to security concerns, not political reasons. He emphasized the city's intention to hold a peaceful and solemn ceremony honouring atomic bomb victims, stating that the decision while challenging, was made to ensure a smooth event.

The U.S., the British, and other Western ambassadors to Japan announced they would not attend Nagasaki's annual peace memorial ceremony tomorrow because Israel was not invited. Among the invitees to the ceremony on August 9th, which marks the 79th anniversary of the atomic bomb attack, were dignitaries from over 150 countries and territories.

I can hear the conspiracy people now , Japan is now funding & backing Hamas. Probably won't make many friends for Japan , but in todays world it will all be forgotten in a week or so.

Considering this comment is this a surprise? China, Iran, Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's statement about dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza

salyavin said:

Considering this comment is this a surprise? China, Iran, Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's statement about dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza

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WOW! Missed that statement. That's what I get for skipping the news and only watching the local weather report.

Grandpa Frank said:

I can hear the conspiracy people now , Japan is now funding & backing Hamas. Probably won't make many friends for Japan , but in todays world it will all be forgotten in a week or so.

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This doesn't represent Japan's official policy but was the decision of the mayor of Nagasaki. The mayor of Hiroshima had no qualms about inviting the Israeli ambassador. I realise that the commemoration ceremony is of municipal nature, but I am surprised that the Japanese Foreign Ministry had no say in organising it, as it also affects bilateral relations.

salyavin said:

Considering this comment is this a surprise? China, Iran, Arab nations condemn Israeli minister's statement about dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza

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I'm not surprised. To secure his right-wing coalition, Bibi had to sleep with the devil.