Hiroshima invites Israel to Peace Memorial Ceremony; Palestine condemns city, saying victims, not perpetrators, should be invited
Jul. 12, 2024
by Keiichi Nobira, Staff Writer
The Permanent General Mission of Palestine to Japan in Tokyo has expressed opposition to the city of Hiroshima’s invitation of a government representative from Israel, currently attacking the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, to the city’s Peace Memorial Ceremony to be held on August 6. The city has not invited the Palestinian Authority, claiming it is not a state. Representative Walead Siam said victims, not perpetrators, should be invited and lamented it was deplorable.
On July 9, the Permanent General Mission of Palestine posted a comment on its official X (former Twitter) account criticizing the city over the Peace Memorial Ceremony. It stated it was shocking that Hiroshima, a city known for its destruction and for its advocacy of peace, would not invite Palestine, which is still experiencing genocide, ethnic cleansing and occupation, and that this decision demonstrated double standards.
In an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun, Mr. Siam said victims were not invited, but perpetrators were, and asked how Hiroshima could be called a “peace city” in this situation.
The city began sending invitations to leaders of nuclear weapon states in 1998, and in 2006, added ambassadors of all the countries with embassies in Japan. Israel first attended in 2009, and its ambassador is expected to attend this time, too. On the other hand, Palestine, which Japan does not recognize as a state, is excluded from the invitation.
As of July 8, representatives from a record 115 countries and the European Union (EU) are scheduled to attend this year’s ceremony. The city has not invited Russia, which continues its invasion of Ukraine, nor Belarus, which supports the invasion, citing concerns their presence could disrupt the smooth running of the ceremony.
The other A-bombed city of Nagasaki, which will hold a ceremony on August 9, has not invited Russia nor Belarus, and has put Israel’s invitation on hold, but has sent an invitation to the Palestine Authority, stating it is not a party to the conflict. The Gaza Strip has been effectively controlled by the Islamic organization Hamas, which continues to engage in combat with the Israeli military.
(Originally published on July 12, 2024)
The Permanent General Mission of Palestine to Japan in Tokyo has expressed opposition to the city of Hiroshima’s invitation of a government representative from Israel, currently attacking the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip, to the city’s Peace Memorial Ceremony to be held on August 6. The city has not invited the Palestinian Authority, claiming it is not a state. Representative Walead Siam said victims, not perpetrators, should be invited and lamented it was deplorable.
On July 9, the Permanent General Mission of Palestine posted a comment on its official X (former Twitter) account criticizing the city over the Peace Memorial Ceremony. It stated it was shocking that Hiroshima, a city known for its destruction and for its advocacy of peace, would not invite Palestine, which is still experiencing genocide, ethnic cleansing and occupation, and that this decision demonstrated double standards.
In an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun, Mr. Siam said victims were not invited, but perpetrators were, and asked how Hiroshima could be called a “peace city” in this situation.
The city began sending invitations to leaders of nuclear weapon states in 1998, and in 2006, added ambassadors of all the countries with embassies in Japan. Israel first attended in 2009, and its ambassador is expected to attend this time, too. On the other hand, Palestine, which Japan does not recognize as a state, is excluded from the invitation.
As of July 8, representatives from a record 115 countries and the European Union (EU) are scheduled to attend this year’s ceremony. The city has not invited Russia, which continues its invasion of Ukraine, nor Belarus, which supports the invasion, citing concerns their presence could disrupt the smooth running of the ceremony.
The other A-bombed city of Nagasaki, which will hold a ceremony on August 9, has not invited Russia nor Belarus, and has put Israel’s invitation on hold, but has sent an invitation to the Palestine Authority, stating it is not a party to the conflict. The Gaza Strip has been effectively controlled by the Islamic organization Hamas, which continues to engage in combat with the Israeli military.
(Originally published on July 12, 2024)
