U.S. Ambassador to Japan Skips Nagasaki Memorial Over Israel's Exclusion

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel will not attend the annual memorial ceremony for the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, following the decision by event organizers to exclude the Israeli ambassador. The U.S. embassy stated that Emanuel's absence is due to his desire to avoid a "politicized event," suggesting that the presence of Israel would have altered the event's political implications. Emanuel, a known supporter of Israel, plans to attend a different ceremony in Tokyo instead. The decision to exclude Israel has drawn criticism from advocates for Palestinian rights, who argue that it reflects a failure to acknowledge the U.S.'s role in the bombing that killed over 70,000 civilians. They contend that the U.S. is capitulating to Israel amid ongoing violence in Gaza, which has been described as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century. The Nagasaki ceremony, commemorating the 79th anniversary of the bombing, has faced backlash from other G7 nations, which warned they would boycott the event if Israel was not invited. Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki cited security concerns as the reason for Israel's exclusion, fearing that protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict could overshadow the memorial. This decision has led to a diplomatic rift, with the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, and Italy also opting out of the ceremony. The situation highlights a perceived double standard in Western responses to international conflicts, particularly in comparison to the exclusion of Russia and Belarus from similar events.