Japan-Israel Relations
Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel by Foreign Minister MOTEGI (Results)
January 11, 2026
On January 11, from 1:40 p.m. local time (8:40 p.m. on January, Japan time) for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel. The overview is as follows:
- At the outset, Minister MOTEGI expressed his deep condolences to the victims of the terror attacks on October 7, 2023, and emphasized that the robust implementation of the "Comprehensive Plan" is crucial for improving the situation surrounding Israel and Palestine. He stated that Japan is ardent to continue to play a proactive role in this regard.
- Minister MOTEGI also urged Israel to take appropriate responses as to protection of civilians and ensuring the humanitarian assistance in Gaza, based on Japan’s position attaching the great importance to the compliance to the international law including the international humanitarian law. Regarding the situation in the West Bank, Minister MOTEGI stated that settlement activities are in violation of international law. Minister MOTEGI expressed Japan's serious concerns that the expansion of settlements and the increase in settler violence would further destabilize the situation in the region, and articulated that Japan places importance on a two-state solution.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu explained Israel's position, and the two ministers exchanged views on a wide range of current international situations.