Japan-Palestine Relations
Foreign Minister IWAYA's Attendance at the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Resolution of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution
September 22, 2025
On the afternoon of September 22 (local time), Minister for Foreign Affairs IWAYA Takeshi, during his visit to New York, attended the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. The overview of the conference is as follows.
- The Conference was attended by representatives from approximately many UN member countries and regions, as well as international organizations, in addition to the Co-Chairs, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (delivered Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s remarks on his behalf). Strong support for a two-state solution was expressed, and the importance of international community’s continued support for Palestine, including the aid to Gaza, was emphasized.
- Minister IWAYA stressed that Japan, together with Norway, served as a co-chair of the Working Group on the economic viability of the Palestinian State in July. He stated that in order to improve PA’s fiscal situation, concerted effort by the international community to urge Israel on this issue and support the Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential, as well as reforms undertaken by the PA itself.
- Minister IWAYA expressed his view that the current situation is an extremely grave and alarming that threatens to erode the very foundation of a two-state solution. He stated that, in addition to the sharp deterioration of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the expansion of settlements and steps toward the annexation of the West Bank are completely unacceptable. He strongly condemned these unilateral actions and called on Israel to immediately cease them. At the same time, he underscored the necessity of the release of all hostages by Hamas and its disarmament.
- Minister IWAYA reaffirmed Japan's consistent position in support of a two-state solution, emphasizing that the issue of recognizing a Palestinian state is not a matter of “if”, but of “when”. He stated that Japan will continue its comprehensive deliberations on the issue of recognizing a Palestinian State with even greater seriousness while carefully monitoring developments. He added that should Israel take further actions that block the path to the realization of a two-state solution, Japan will be compelled to introduce new measures in response.
(Reference) Attachment
Statement by Foreign Minister IWAYA (Japanese (PDF) 
/ English (PDF) )