From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Sa’ar lands in Tokyo for first visit by Israeli foreign minister in 15 years
Nava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has arrived in Japan for the first official visit to the G7 country by an Israeli foreign minister in 15 years, the Foreign Ministry announces.
During his three-day visit, Sa’ar will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, members of the Japan-Israel Parliamentary friendship group, and other top Japanese officials, the ministry says in a statement.
In October, Iwaya “unequivocally condemned” the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel but said he was “gravely concerned” by the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip one year into the ongoing conflict.
While in Japan, Sa’ar will give interviews to local media and hold a press conference aimed at “strengthening Israel’s narrative in the Japanese press,” Sa’ar’s office says.
The foreign minister is expected to return to Israel on Thursday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Tokyo on May 12, 2014, marking the last major diplomatic visit to Japan by an Israeli official.
The Times of Israel Community.