US Ambassador Skip Nagasaki Peace Ceremony Over Israel’s Exclusion

US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, will not attend Nagasaki’s annual peace ceremony due to the exclusion of Israel, the embassy confirmed. The ceremony, set for Friday at Nagasaki Peace Park, commemorates the 1945 atomic bombing and is attended by diplomats from over 100 countries.

 

Controversy Over Israel’s Exclusion

Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki stated that Israel was excluded from this year’s event due to security concerns. This decision led to protests from Western nations, including the US, France, Germany, and Italy, who warned that excluding Israel might affect their own participation.

 

Diplomatic Response and Alternative Plans

In response, Emanuel notified the Nagasaki mayor that his absence was due to the political nature of the exclusion decision. He will instead attend a separate peace ceremony at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo and observe a moment of silence at the US embassy.

 

Differences in Approach Between Nagasaki and Hiroshima

The situation contrasts with Hiroshima, which recently hosted its peace ceremony and included the Israeli ambassador despite protests. Activists had pressured both cities to exclude Israel due to its actions in Gaza, though Hiroshima chose a different approach.

 

Mayor’s Justification and Reactions

Mayor Suzuki maintained that the exclusion was necessary for maintaining the ceremony’s peaceful atmosphere, denying political motivations. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi noted that while the foreign affairs ministry provided input, local authorities made the final decision on the event’s arrangements.