U.S. and British Ambassadors Skip Nagasaki Peace Ceremony Over Israel’s Omission

Ambassadors Decline Attendance at Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony

On Wednesday, the U.S. and British ambassadors to Japan announced they would not participate in Nagasaki’s annual peace memorial ceremony, which commemorates the day the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. This decision was made due to the omission of Israel from the guest list.

This year’s ceremony, set for August 9, marks the 79th anniversary of the devastating atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki. Dignitaries from over 150 countries and territories have been invited to attend. However, since 2022, both Russia and Belarus have been excluded from the list of invitees due to their ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

In a significant development, Israel was also not included in this year’s invitations. The U.S. and British ambassadors expressed their discontent with Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki’s decision, arguing that it inaccurately equates Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza with the actions of Russia and Belarus.

U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel conveyed his perspective in an emailed statement, asserting, “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s self-defense are not morally equivalent.”

Mayor Suzuki explained his rationale for not inviting Israel during a news conference last week. He stated that the decision was motivated by concerns over potential security risks and disruptions during the ceremony. The mayor emphasized that his choice was “not based on political judgment” but rather aimed at ensuring the event could proceed in a peaceful and solemn manner, honoring the victims of the atomic bomb.