The mayor of Nagasaki plans to explain his city’s decision not to invite the Israeli ambassador to Japan to Friday’s annual peace ceremony marking the US atomic bombing of the city.
Nagasaki City earlier said the decision was made to ensure the ceremony to mourn atomic bomb victims would be carried out smoothly in a calm and solemn atmosphere. The move comes as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas.
The ambassadors from the Group of Seven nations, except Japan, and the Tokyo-based representative of the European Union last month jointly sent a letter of concern to Mayor Suzuki Shiro. The letter urged him to invite Israel to the peace ceremony.
Suzuki plans to meet reporters on Thursday morning to explain the city’s stance on the matter and ask for understanding.
Friday’s ceremony to mark the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki will be attended by atomic bomb survivors and bereaved families, among others.
Suzuki is to deliver a peace declaration in which he will express a deep sense of crisis, referring to situations in the Middle East and elsewhere.