Japan to forgo recognizing Palestinian state at UN General Assembly

Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip is set to be a major topic next week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. But Japan will not be using the meeting to recognize a Palestinian state. Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi said during separate phone talks on Friday with his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts.

He said he told them that Japan will not recognize a Palestinian state for the time being. Iwaya said he will attend a conference in New York on Monday seeking a two-state solution. He also said he spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing the need to pressure Israel into immediately halting its unilateral actions.