Japan must unconditionally recognise a Palestinian state and its right to sovereignty, self-determination, and life
Ahead of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and Human Rights Week in December, Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific, including FoE Japan, submitted a letter to the Japanese government calling for recognition of the State of Palestine.
Please read the letter below.
Dear Prime Minister of Japan, Ms. Takaichi Sanae,
Dear Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr. Motegi Toshimitsu
We are writing to you on behalf of Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific, a regional network within Friends of the Earth International, the world’s largest grassroots environmental federation active in 73 countries, of which Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan) is also a part. We work to address the most urgent environmental and social challenges of our time. Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific consists of 12 member organisations, including the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON – Friends of the Earth Palestine).
We fully support and advocate for the complete and unconditional recognition of the State of Palestine with full sovereign rights.
On September 29, United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new 20-point “peace proposal” to end the war in Gaza. Yet from the outset, and even in discussions of post-war reconstruction and governance, Palestinians were entirely excluded from the conversation. Any so-called “peace plan” without Palestinian participation can only serve as a new form of colonial domination. Even after the so-called ceasefire, killings and bombings continue across different parts of Gaza. Despite what many of us have hoped for, the genocide did not end for Palestinians in Gaza.
More recently, the UN Security Council passed a US-drafted resolution that endorses Trump’s 20-point plan, which essentially imposes an international guardianship mechanism on the Gaza Strip. It also undermines Palestinians’ right to self-determination and would authorise the US to establish itself as an occupying power. We cannot call for the end of the Israeli occupation of Gaza, only to stand quietly by while another state takes over that same role. This is totally unacceptable and represents yet another blow to Palestinian rights, dignity and humanity.
True peace needs to come with the liberation and recognition of a free Palestine, with full sovereign rights. With that being said, the recognition of Palestinian statehood and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination must not be contingent upon the will of the occupying power. It must be unconditional.
More than 160 UN member states have formally recognised the State of Palestine. This September, the Japanese government stated that “they will hold off on Palestinian state recognition for the time being,” emphasizing its continued support for a two-state solution as well as its relations with the United States. On November 12th, however, Prime Minister Takaichi stated at the House of Councillors Budget Committee that, regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state, “We will comprehensively consider the most effective and practical timing. We are entering a stage where we must determine when to grant recognition.”
We believe that the Japanese government should use its close relationship with the United States to advocate for a peace plan that is fair and just for the Palestinian people, and one that lays the groundwork for the recognition of a Palestinian state – an action Japan itself should take without delay.
Japan needs to stand in solidarity with Palestine and take firm actions for peace
Japan cannot continue to credibly call itself a “peace nation” while neglecting the historical responsibility and moral authority that status demands. Recognising Palestine and demanding an end to one of the worst atrocities of our time is integral to this, and would reaffirm Japan’s leadership in a world sliding toward militarisation and division. More than most nations, Japan knows the dangers of rapid militarisation and the breakdown of international norms and the rule of law. Japan has an obligation to uphold such in the pursuit of peace.
Japan’s post-war Constitution, particularly Article 9, renounces war and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. Yet recent policy shifts toward increased defence budgets threaten to erode this foundation. We express deep concern that such policies risk escalating regional tensions and diverting public funds from pressing global priorities—such as humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding, climate action, and support for those suffering under occupation or displacement.
Japan has taken several actions, including the asset freeze for Israeli settlers involved in violent acts or providing support to UNRWA. There is, however, plenty more to be done.
In this regard, we firmly demand that the Government of the Republic of Japan take the following actions:
- Immediate and unconditional recognition of the State of Palestine with full sovereign rights
- Publicly support a comprehensive and just ceasefire plan that ensures Israel’s compliancy to the terms, and end of occupation in accordance with international law;
- Call for the agreed upon amount of aid, medicine and any other humanitarian requirements to be allowed into the Gaza strip
- Demand for an end to the ongoing attacks and expansion by settlers in the West Bank
- Stop arms trading with Israel, including the import of Israeli drones to Japan
Thank you.
Friends of the Earth Japan
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific
Signatories of Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific:
Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network
Friends of the Earth Australia
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
Centre for Environmental Justice (Sri Lanka)
Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights, Inc. (Papua New Guinea)
Forum for Protection of Public Interest – Pro Public (Nepal)
Friends of the Earth India
Friends of the Earth Japan
Korean Federation for Environmental Movement
Sahabat Alam MalaysiaThe Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (Philippines)
Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia
