US Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, has decided not to attend Nagasaki’s annual peace ceremony, expressing strong disapproval of the city’s decision to exclude Israel from the event. This year’s commemoration, marking the tragic atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945, will be held on Friday at Nagasaki Peace Park. Diplomats from over 100 nations will gather to observe a minute of silence in remembrance.

Nagasaki’s mayor, Shiro Suzuki, recently announced that Israel would not be invited due to security concerns, a decision that has stirred controversy. Western diplomats, including those from the US, France, Germany, and Italy, had earlier cautioned that such an exclusion could impact the participation of their representatives.

In response, Ambassador Emanuel sent a letter to the mayor, criticizing the exclusion of Israel as a political move. As a result, he has chosen to withdraw from the ceremony, opting instead to attend a peace event at Tokyo’s Zojoji Temple and hold a moment of silence at the US embassy.

The decision to exclude Israel stands in contrast to Hiroshima’s recent ceremony, which included Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen despite protests from pro-Palestinian groups. Both Nagasaki and Hiroshima have faced pressure from activists to exclude Israel over its actions in Gaza.

While Russia and Belarus were previously disinvited from the ceremonies due to their roles in the Ukraine conflict, the exclusion of Israel has drawn particular attention. US consulates across Japan have been instructed to observe a moment of silence in solidarity.

Mayor Suzuki, addressing the situation, emphasized that the decision was driven by the need to ensure the ceremony’s peaceful and solemn nature, not by political motivations. He expressed regret over Ambassador Emanuel’s absence but maintained that security concerns were paramount.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, reiterated that while the foreign ministry had communicated international perspectives to Nagasaki, the final decision on the event’s guest list rested with the local authorities.