17.09.2025 11:40
It has been claimed that Japan will not recognize Palestine as a state in the UN General Assembly in order to maintain its relations with the United States and to prevent a reaction from Israel. It has been suggested that Washington warned Tokyo in this regard, while 206 members of parliament in the country had called on the government to recognize Palestine.
As many countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, prepare to recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting scheduled for September 22, it has been suggested that Japan will take a different stance.
RELATIONS WITH THE US CITED AS A REASON
According to reports based on Japanese government sources, the Tokyo administration will not recognize Palestine for now in order to maintain its relations with the US and to prevent a strong reaction from Israel. Therefore, it has been claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will not attend the relevant meeting at the UN General Assembly.
WARNING FROM WASHINGTON NOT TO RECOGNIZE
Last week, reports in the Japanese media indicated that the Washington administration had warned Tokyo not to recognize Palestine as a state. It was reported that US officials conveyed to the Japanese government that such a step would harm bilateral relations and increase tensions in the region.
CALL FROM 206 PARLIAMENTARIANS TO THE GOVERNMENT
On the other hand, pressures on the government are increasing within Japan. Due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, 206 parliamentarians had submitted a letter calling on the government to recognize Palestine. Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated regarding the issue, "We are conducting a comprehensive assessment, including appropriate timing and methods for the recognition of the state of Palestine."
COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT RECOGNIZE PALESTINE
- The US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and some Western European countries (including the UK, France, and Germany) do not officially recognize Palestine.
- However, many of these countries maintain diplomatic relations with the Palestinian administration and state that they support a "two-state solution."
COUNTRIES PLANNING TO RECOGNIZE
- By September 2025, countries such as France, the UK, Canada, and Australia are preparing to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly.
COUNTRIES THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED PALESTINE
Approximately 140 of the 193 member countries of the United Nations recognize Palestine as a state.
The majority of these countries are:
- Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, etc.
- Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, etc.
- Latin America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Cuba, etc.
- Eastern Europe: Russia, Poland, Czechia (from the former Czechoslovakia period), Ukraine, etc.
- Middle East: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.
INTERNATIONAL STATUS
In the United Nations, Palestine has had the status of "non-member observer state" since 2012. It has full membership status in UNESCO and some other international organizations.