Nagasaki Mayor Defends Decision to Exclude Israel from Peace Ceremony
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki has defended his decision not to invite Israel to the Peace Memorial Ceremony commemorating victims of the 1945 atomic bombing. The decision has sparked controversy, with the ambassadors of the United States and Britain choosing to skip the event in protest.
Suzuki maintains that the decision was not politically motivated, but rather aimed at ensuring a peaceful and solemn atmosphere for the ceremony. He cited public protests in Japan demanding an end to Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Additionally, atomic bomb survivors had urged both Hiroshima and Nagasaki to exclude Israel due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Despite receiving letters expressing concern from six countries and the European Union, Suzuki contacted each embassy and sought their understanding. He emphasized that Nagasaki typically sends invitations to all embassies in Japan from late May to early June, but this year, Russia and Belarus were excluded due to the invasion of Ukraine.
In June, Nagasaki withheld its invitation to Israel due to the "risk of unexpected incidents occurring during the ceremony, given the critical humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and international opinion." The city sent a letter to the Israeli ambassador calling for an immediate cease-fire, expressing deep sadness over the situation.
However, on July 31, Suzuki decided not to invite Israel, citing the ongoing conflict. He reiterated that the decision was not political, but based on the desire for a peaceful and smooth ceremony.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui stated that the invitation to Israel was "in line with past practices," while atomic bomb survivors expressed regret that the ceremony was affected by political issues. Some survivors also questioned the absence of the US ambassador from the ceremony, given the US role in dropping the atomic bomb.
Despite the controversy, Nagasaki Mayor Suzuki remains firm in his decision, emphasizing the importance of the ceremony as a place for reflection on the devastation caused by the atomic bombing and a call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.