September 25, 2025

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in his address at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly on September 24, Japan time, stated that the question of whether to recognize Palestinian statehood is not a matter of “whether” but “when”. He thereby effectively announced Japan’s decision to postpone recognizing Palestine as a state.

Following PM Ishiba, five candidates in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, slated for October 4, also turned their backs on the idea of recognizing a Palestinian state at a debate hosted by the Japan National Press Club on the same day in Tokyo. They defended the Japanese government’s stance of holding off on recognition in subservience to the position taken by the United States.

During the debate, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi Shinjiro was cautious about recognizing the State of Palestine, stating that “a comprehensive judgment is necessary” after carefully considering the international situation.

Former Economic Security Minister Takaichi Sanae also stated that Japan should make a careful judgment, taking into account its overall national interests and the global situation.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa argued for the need to see “what the outcome so far has been and if the situation has improved” after a series of countries endorsed the State of Palestine. He considered Japan’s non-recognition decision as the “best balance” for achieving a “two-state solution”.

Former Minister of Economic Security Kobayashi Takayuki said that Japan “demonstrated a forward-looking stance towards resolving” the Israel-Palestine issue by not recognizing Palestinian statehood.

Former LDP Secretary General Motegi Toshimitsu said, “We must be cautious about Japan’s recognition of a Palestinian state while considering whether recognition would be effective in stopping the current conflict.”