Japan chairs 'rare' Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli meeting
Japan chairs 'rare' Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli meeting
The Japanese foreign minister gathered Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli officials in a rare move for negotiations between the three countries.
2 min read
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki greeting Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono [Getty]
The Japanese foreign minister has presided over a rare meeting of Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli officials to push ahead with an agro-industrial park intended to enhance cross-border trade and cooperation.
Taro Kono, the Japanese minister, acknowledged late Sunday that it "has not been easy for the four parties to get together under current circumstances".
Israel and Jordan only recently patched up relations after a months-long diplomatic crisis following the shooting of two Jordanians at Amman's Israel embassy. Officials from Palestine and Israel meet only intermittently because of ongoing deadlock in peace efforts.
Sunday's meeting focused on the Tokyo-backed Jericho Agro-Industrial Park in the West Bank, near an Israeli-controlled border with Jordan. Twelve companies operate at the park, launched more than a decade ago. Kono says he hopes more will join, including Japanese firms.
Japan has stretched its diplomatic activities in the Middle East in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi sought international support in Japan to restore peace and prosperity in his country.
Abadi co-hosted a meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss ways to improve public safety in Iraq while promoting the country's sustainable economic development.
Abe announced a 35 billion yen ($330 million) loan for irrigation projects in Iraq during talks with Abadi and pledged Japan's continuing support. The loan is part of Japan's $6 billion pledge to stabilise the Middle East, the source of 80 percent of its oil imports.
More In News
