---
title: "Japan won't recognise a Palestinian state given US ties, Asahi reports"
description: "TOKYO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Japan will not recognise a Palestinian state for now, probably to maintain relations with the United States and to avoid a hardening of Israel's attitude, the Asahi newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified government sources."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-17-japan-wont-recognise-a-palestinian-state-given-us-ties-asahi-reports/"
published: "2025-09-17T04:46:30"
updated: "2025-09-17T04:46:31"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 188
---

# Japan won't recognise a Palestinian state given US ties, Asahi reports

> TOKYO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Japan will not recognise a Palestinian state for now, probably to maintain relations with the United States and to avoid a hardening of Israel's attitude, the Asahi newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified government sources.

By Reuters · Published 17 September 2025, 06:46 SAST · Updated 17 September 2025, 06:46 SAST

## Key points
- As global leaders line up to give Palestine a high-five at the UN, Japan plays hard to get, caught between a diplomatic rock and a hard place, while Germany and Italy roll their eyes at the whole recognition drama.
- Several governments, including Britain, France, Canada, and Australia, plan to recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly, increasing pressure on Israel.
- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will skip a key meeting on the two-state solution, influenced by U.S. diplomatic efforts against recognition.
- Japan is evaluating the timing and approach to recognizing Palestinian statehood, despite calls from France for immediate action.
- Within the G7, German and Italian officials argue that swift recognition of Palestine would be "counterproductive."

## Content

Several governments, including those in Britain, France, Canada and Australia, have said they will [recognise](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL4N3UQ0IQ&linkedFromStory=true) a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month, adding international pressure on Israel over its actions in the territory.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to skip a September 22 meeting on a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians during the UN gathering in New York, Asahi said.

The U.S. had prompted Japan to forgo the recognition of a Palestinian state through several diplomatic channels, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot had strongly urged his Japanese counterpart to recognise it, Kyodo news agency reported last week.

Japan has been conducting a "comprehensive assessment, including appropriate timing and modalities, of the issue of recognising Palestinian statehood," Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a news briefing on Tuesday.

At a UN meeting on Friday, Japan was among 142 nations that voted in favour of a [declaration](https://www.reutersconnect.com/nMT1ALTS0N3SY04L2) outlining "tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution.

Within the Group of Seven nations, [German](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3UE0CE&linkedFromStory=true) and [Italian](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3TN01G&linkedFromStory=true) officials have called an immediate recognition of Palestine "counterproductive".

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Neil Fullick)