Japan unlikely to recognize Palestinian state for now: sources

     TOKYO, Sept. 17 Kyodo - Japan is unlikely to recognize Palestinian statehood for now, government sources said Wednesday, apparently taking into account the ongoing conflict with Israel and the position of the United States, Tokyo's most important ally.

    Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has told executives of his party that he plans to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York later in the month, is not expected to participate in an international conference on the Palestine issue to be held before high-level debates at the U.N. headquarters, the sources said.

    Ishiba has announced that he will step down as president of the Liberal Democratic Party, with its leadership race to be held on Oct. 4 and a Diet session expected later to elect the new prime minister.

    The government is expected to announce in the coming days that it will not be recognizing a Palestinian state.

    The Japanese government is concerned that recognition could harden Israel's stance and worsen the Palestinian humanitarian crisis, the sources said.

    The administration of U.S President Donald Trump opposes recognition, while France, Britain and Canada are expected to formally endorse it at the conference on Sept. 22 at the U.N. headquarters.

    The United States and France have urged Japan to follow their respective stances ahead of the conference. Britain has also done so.

    "Japan has consistently supported a two-state solution, understanding the Palestinian desire to establish an independent state, and supported their efforts toward that end," top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference Wednesday.

    "We are deeply concerned that the ongoing Israeli military actions could undermine the premise of a two-state solution."

    Israel has launched a ground offensive in Gaza City after days of aerial attacks.

    Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has said the country will eventually recognize Palestinian statehood, but the timing will depend on future developments.

    On Sunday, Iwaya said recognition requires a governing structure able to control all Palestinian territories, citing the presence of Hamas, the Islamist group fighting Israel, as a challenge to achieving such a condition.

    Resource-poor Japan, highly dependent on the Middle East for crude oil imports, has traditionally pursued a balanced diplomacy between Muslim nations and Israel.

==Kyodo