The US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, will not attend the annual peace ceremony in Nagasaki, commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing, due to Israel’s exclusion from the event, CNN reports.
The annual peace ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are held to promote global peace and emphasize the importance of never using nuclear weapons again.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki announced Israel’s exclusion due to “security concerns,” despite warnings from Western nations that it could affect the attendance of their ambassadors.
In a letter to the mayor, ambassadors from France, Germany, Italy, and the US, along with representatives from Canada, the UK, and the European Union, expressed concerns that Israel’s exclusion would make it difficult for them to participate.
The US embassy confirmed Emanuel’s absence, stating that the decision to exclude Israel was “political” and left the ambassador with no choice but to withdraw.
The German ambassador will also not attend the ceremony, sending a minister counselor instead.
“The US government will be represented at Nagasaki by the Principal Officer of Consulate Fukuoka,” the embassy said.
The ambassador will hold a moment of silence at the embassy and attend a peace ceremony at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo.
This decision comes amidst ongoing tensions surrounding Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has drawn criticism from activists and bomb survivor groups in Japan.
The move by Nagasaki contrasts with Hiroshima, which invited the Israeli ambassador to its peace ceremony, drawing protests from pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that the foreign affairs ministry had communicated with Nagasaki officials regarding the implications of excluding Israel from the peace ceremony. However, he emphasized that local authorities have the final say in managing events they organize.
