By Toma Mochizuki,
The mayor of the southwestern Japan city of Nagasaki reiterated Thursday that the lack of an invitation for Israel to attend an annual ceremony commemorating the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city was not politically motivated and there would be no change to the decision.
The remarks by Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki came a day after it was revealed that the envoys of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and the European Union had sent a letter to Nagasaki in mid-July saying "it would become difficult for us to have high-level participation" in the event if Israel was excluded.
They expressed concerns that the move "would result in placing Israel on the same level as countries such as Russia and Belarus," which have not been invited to the ceremony for a third consecutive year over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Suzuki cited security reasons as behind the decision, including potential demonstrations against Israel's attendance, and told reporters that he hoped the ceremony would be "conducted smoothly under a solemn atmosphere," as aging atomic bomb survivors make great efforts to attend the ceremony.
"I will continue to persevere and ask for understanding of the decision as often as necessary," he said.
The mayor had initially postponed a decision on Israel's participation, before announcing on July 31 that the country would not be invited.
The announcement was followed by envoys pulling out of the event, including U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who said that Nagasaki's lack of an invite "left me no choice" in a letter sent to Suzuki after attending the Hiroshima peace ceremony on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
"I believe your decision is a political one and has nothing to do with the security and safety of the event, especially in light of the caliber of attendees," wrote Emanuel.
"I am also confident you are aware that I will not be the only ambassador not attending this year's ceremony in Nagasaki for similar reasons and concerns," he added.
The Canadian Embassy on Thursday said its ambassador Ian McKay would abstain from the ceremony as the lack of an invitation equated Israel with Russian and Belarus, although it said it understood the importance of the event.
The French Ambassador to Japan Philippe Seton will also not be attending, according to the French Embassy.
British Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom also expressed her intention earlier this week to skip the annual peace ceremony in response to the city's decision.
The ambassadors that have pulled out are slated to be represented instead by respective ministers and consul generals.
Suzuki said the decision of some ambassadors to pull out of the ceremony was "unfortunate," adding that he hoped that they would participate again from the following year onward.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the central government's top spokesman, declined to comment on the issue concerning Nagasaki at a news conference in Tokyo, saying the city was hosting the event.
Ambassador of Israel to Japan Gilad Cohen expressed gratitude on X, formerly known as Twitter, to the representatives that pulled out of the ceremony.
"I would like to extend my gratitude to all the countries that have chosen to stand with Israel and oppose its exclusion from the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony. Thank you for standing with us on the right side of history," he said.
Israel has come under criticism for the scale of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza caused by its assault in response to the militant group Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Waleed Siam, representative of the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan, said he was "deeply appalled and outraged by the disgraceful decision of the few ambassadors."
Noting the United States dropped the atomic bomb to Nagasaki, Siam said its refusal to participate in the city's ceremony "out of allegiance to a nation currently committing genocidal crime is a profound disrespect to the victims and their families."
While Israel was invited to attend the peace ceremony in Hiroshima, some criticized its inclusion as reflecting double standards given that Russia and Belarus were barred for the third consecutive year over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Palestine was also excluded from the event.
The Hiroshima decision drew protests, including an event attended by around 100 people at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the evening after the anniversary ceremony was held on the site.
But international concerns have grown over the deaths and injuries of many civilians in the Palestinian enclave, as well as the dire humanitarian situation there.
In Tokyo, dozens demonstrated near the U.S. and British embassies on Thursday evening, protesting their respective ambassadors' decision to pull out of the Nagasaki peace ceremony.
Many called out, "Shame on you" in English and "Stop blackmailing Nagasaki," as they held Palestinian flags and banners.
Koji Sugihara, the 58-year-old head of the Network Against Japan Arms Trade, who organized the protests, said the move by the ambassadors was "outrageous."
"The ceremony is supposed to be an occasion to commemorate the atomic bomb victims and reaffirm the commitment to never tolerate genocide, and I cannot forgive that the United States and other Western democratic nations for skipping it just to show support to Israel," he said.
(Risako Nakanishi contributed to this story from Tokyo)
Related coverage:
U.S., Europe aired concern over no Israel presence at Nagasaki A-bomb event
Activists protest Hiroshima's invitation to Israel to A-bomb ceremony
FEATURE: Nagasaki anti-nuke sit-ins take on new gravity as threat grows
