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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Outgoing Japanese PM to arrive Tuesday evening for first Israel trip |
| 2006-07-11 |
| Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi set out Tuesday for his first trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, during which he is expected to encourage both sides to engage in dialogue to resolve their conflict. Koizumi said he will urge the leaders to exercise restraint. "Tension is increasing lately. Japan will ask for as much restraint as possible and look for ways to prevent the spiral of animosity and violence," he told reporters before leaving. Koizumi, who will be ending his term in office in two and a half months, will visit Jerusalem on his way to the G8 summit meeting in Moscow. His visit had been planned for this January, but was delayed due to the illness of former prime minister Ariel Sharon. Japan is the second largest aid donor to the Palestinians on a country basis after the United States, and Koizumi is likely to offer fresh humanitarian aid through international organizations, the same way some 70 percent of the $844 million Japan has given since 1993 has been dispensed. "As a result, we haven't really had to change our aid stance since Hamas took power," the official said. "Besides, President Abbas is not from Hamas." Koizumi will meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, President Moshe Katsav and Vice Premier Shimon Peres on Wednesday, and also will visit Yad Vashem. He is scheduled to meet PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday. Japan is the second-largest donor to the Palestinians, after the European Union. Koizumi had asked for a three-party meeting with Olmert and Abbas, but the idea was abandoned due to the crisis between Israel and the Palestinians. Japan promised Israel that Koizumi would not meet Hamas officials in the PA. Israeli officials also plan to discuss with Koizumi the threats from Iran and North Korea. An Israeli delegation headed by the Foreign Ministry deputy director general for strategic affairs, Miriam Ziv, is meeting officials in Tokyo and Seoul this week to discuss threats posed by missiles and nuclear weapons and efforts to block them. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 70 percent of the $844 million Japan has given since 1993 has been dispensed. @ $33. a copy, thats a boatload of AK-47's. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-07-11 21:15 |
| #1 Maybe he'll stop here. Surreal place, BTW. Right near an Old West movie set where most Israeli westerns are filmed. |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2006-07-11 21:10 |