Israel envoy to attend Nagasaki A-bomb ceremony after 2024 snub
KYODO NEWS - 9 minutes ago - 23:12 | All, Japan, World
Israel will attend the peace ceremony marking the anniversary of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki in August, the country's ambassador has said, after the Middle Eastern nation was not invited last year.
Ambassador of Israel to Japan Gilad Cohen revealed he had received an invitation from the mayor of Nagasaki during a press conference Friday. He said he will show Israel's "respect to the Japanese people" and "mutual understanding of the importance of peace."
It comes after the Nagasaki city government did not invite Israel in 2024 amid its conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza. In response, ambassadors from the Group of Seven nations other than Japan pulled out of the annual ceremony.
For this year's event, marking 80 years since the bombing, the city government said in May it intends to adopt a more inclusive approach inviting representatives from all the diplomatic missions in Japan.
On Thursday, Russian media said Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev will attend the ceremony, the first presence from the country since it began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Related coverage:
Iran envoy urges A-bombed Japan to stand against U.S. attacks
Russian envoy to Japan to attend A-bomb ceremony in Nagasaki in Aug.
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