Despite diplomatic challenges, the leaders of the G7 nations, currently meeting in Canada, managed to issue a joint statement regarding Israel’s strikes on Iran. The statement affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, even amid disagreements among the countries.
“Israel has the right to defend itself, and we reiterate our support for the majority of Israel,” the statement read. “Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror, and it must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.”
Despite the clear and direct language, reaching this consensus was not easy. Behind the scenes, the United States made it clear it would not agree to a weakly worded condemnation, while Japan—long opposed to war due to the legacy of World War II and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima—was, to put it mildly, unenthusiastic about wording that could be seen as encouraging military action.
"It was complicated. At one point, there was concern they wouldn't be able to produce a joint declaration," a Western diplomat told the Post. "But in the end, they managed to craft a phrasing everyone could agree on."
Japan sparks controversy by calling Israeli strike unacceptable
Japan sparked controversy over the weekend after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Israel’s attack was "unacceptable." “While negotiations for a peaceful resolution to the Iranian issue are ongoing, it is unacceptable for Israel to resort to military means,” Kishida told reporters. “I strongly condemn this action.”
Following the release of the joint statement, Gilad Cohen, Israel's ambassador to Japan, expressed appreciation for Japan’s friendship and its support for Israel’s security. “I commend Japan for standing alongside its G7 partners in reaffirming Israel’s right to defend itself and for identifying #Iran as the primary source of regional instability and terror,” the ambassador posted on X. “We also strongly endorse the clear message from Japan and its G7 partners that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.”