The Fourth Conference for Confidence-Building between the Israelis and the Palestinians

October 14, 2008

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the Fourth Conference for Confidence-Building between the Israelis and the Palestinians from October 22 (Wed) to 23 (Thu), in Tokyo.
The Conference will be participated in by Mr. Meir Sheetrit, Minister of the Interior, as the chief delegate of Israel, and by Dr. Sa’eb Erekat, Head of the Negotiations Affairs of the PLO, as the chief delegate of the Palestinians. In addition to these representatives, government officials and academic experts from both sides who are familiar with the Middle East Peace Process and the local situation will also participate in the Conference.
From the Japanese side, Dr. Tatsuo Arima, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan (for the Middle East), Mr. Ryoji Tateyama, Professor of the National Defense Academy, and other specialists will participate in the Conference to exchange views on the current situation of the Middle East Peace Process, the prospect for the development of the Palestinian economy, the perspectives of the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” initiative, and the prospect of comprehensive Middle East peace, and other topics, aiming at peaceful coexistence between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
This Conference, which follows the Third Conference held in March 2007, will be a part of Japan’s initiative for confidence-building between the Israelis and the Palestinians, one of Japan’s policy pillars for promoting the Middle East Peace Process.

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