Press Releases
Japan-Israel Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
June 16, 2026
On June 16, from 4:45pm for 20 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talk with H.E. Mr Gideon Sa'ar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel.
- At the outset, Minister MOTEGI emphasized the importance of steady implementation of the agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran this time, as well as of that a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear issue will also be achieved as soon as possible, and strongly urged Israel to take appropriate responses.
- Regarding the situation of Lebanon, Minister MOTEGI stated that Hezbollah’s attacks on northern Israel are unacceptable, and then expressed serious concerns about civilian casualties and the destruction of infrastructure resulting from attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, urging Israel to exercise maximum restraint at this critical juncture. Minister MOTEGI also stated that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Israel and Lebanon should be equally respected.
- Regarding the situation in Gaza, Minister MOTEGI also stressed the importance of the steady implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, including the dismantlement of Hamas's weapons, and stated that Japan would continue to play a proactive role toward the reconstruction of Gaza. On the situation in the West Bank, based on the position that settlement activities are in violation of international law, Minister MOTEGI expressed concern over the continued expansion of settlements and violence by settlers and strongly called on the Israeli Government to take prompt and appropriate measures in particular reversing its decision on the development plan for the E1 area and completely freezing all settlement activities.
- Foreign Minister Sa'ar explained Israel's position on the issue of Iran as well as of Palestine, and the two ministers concurred on continued communication between the two countries.