Press Releases
Courtesy Call on H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, and H.E. Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of Palestine, by Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs MATSUMOTO Hisashi
August 14, 2025
On August 14, Mr. MATSUMOTO Hisashi, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Palestine, paid a courtesy call respectively on H.E. Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of Palestine, commencing at 10 a.m. (local time) for approximately 50 minutes, and H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestine, commencing at 1p.m. (local time) for approximately 40 minutes. The overview is as follows:
- At the outset, Parliamentary Vice Minister Matsumoto emphasized that Japan attaches importance to the realization of a two-state solution through negotiations and building trust between Israel and Palestine, reaffirming Japan’s unwavering support for a two state solution. He also stated that settlement activities in the West Bank are in violation of international law and expressed his strong concern about the expansion of settlements.
- Parliamentary Vice Minister Matsumoto stated that Japan attaches great importance to Palestine’s endeavor to embody itself as a state so as to ensure its existence in a sustainable way living side by side in peace and security with Israel, and thereby contribute to regional stability. He also expressed his expectation for tangible progress in the Palestinian Authority’s reforms.
- Parliamentary Vice Minister Matsumoto further stressed that Palestinian economic viability is essential. In this context, he stressed that Japan will consider necessary measures, including assistance in the face of urgent needs in Gaza, based onJapan’s initiatives such as the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” and the “Conference on Cooperation among East Asian countries for Palestinian Development” (CEAPAD) and Japan’s contribution as one of the co-chairs of the Working Group on the Economic Viability at the High Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two State Solution which was held in New York.
- In response, President Abbas and Prime Minister Mustafa expressed their gratitude for Japan's principled position to support a two state solution and its long-standing assistance to Palestine, while touching upon the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They further elaborated on the current situation surrounding Palestine and the prospect of a two state solution.