Top > Regional Affairs > Middle East > Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi's Visit to Israel and Palestinian Autonomous Areas > Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Israel and Palestinian Autonomous Areas (Overview and Results)

Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Israel and Palestinian Autonomous Areas
(Overview and Results)

June 10, 2002

Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi paid a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Autonomous Areas from 8 to 9 June 2002, where she engaged in the following meetings with dignitaries and discussed peace in the Middle East and other issues.

1. Main Meetings

(1) Palestinian Side:

  • Minister Kawaguchi met with Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
  • Mr. Nabil Sha'ath, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, and
  • Mr. Abu Ala, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

(2)Israeli Side:

  • Minister Kawaguchi met with Mr. Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister,
  • Mr. Shimon Peres, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, and
  • Mr. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Minister of Defense.

2. Content of Talks

(1) Japanese Message:

(a) To the Palestinian side:

  • Both Israelis and Palestinians should stop the violence. The Palestinians should also demonstrate their actions to the international community. Even if the international community is willing to support Palestinians, unless there is peace, it is difficult to provide support from the international community.
  • The ongoing reforms of the Palestinian Authority are to be praised. Japan is prepared to support the reforms of the Palestinian Authority. A mission will be dispatched to elucidate specific needs with regard to the implementation of training and technical cooperation.
  • It is important to work on the three processes in parallel: the resumption and acceleration of the political process, economic and humanitarian assistance and the restoration of security.
  • (While showing a roadmap for support of the Palestinian Autonomous Areas, which presents the relationship between the progress of the peace process and Japan's assistance "menu,"), it is important for Japan to participate in the political process in order to facilitate Japan's support.
  • Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East, Dr. Tatsuo Arima was introduced.

(b) To the Israeli side:

  • (While expressing condolences for the victims of suicide bombings,) Japan urged that the vicious cycle of violence should be ended. Japan has requested that Chairman Arafat halt terrorism, and calls on the Israelis to put an end to violence.
  • For the purpose of confidence building, the idea of establishing a forum for dialogue among a small group of people is being considered.
  • An international conference aimed at bringing about a breakthrough should be convened as soon as possible. Japan will attend such a conference.
  • Japan's concept for support for the Palestinian Authority's reform and the roadmap for assistance to the Palestinians. Israelis should cooperate to create an atmosphere in which the Palestinian Authority's reform can be achieved.
  • Special Envoy Responsible for Peace in the Middle East, Dr. Tatsuo Arima was introduced.

(2) Responses from Both Sides

(a) Israel:

(Prime Minister Sharon)

  • The situation is not a vicious cycle of violence, but rather, Israel exercising its right of self-defense to protect itself against terrorism.
  • Japan is an important donor country and as such, should participate in any international conference.
  • Japan's support to the Palestinians is important, but assistance that is similar in form to "handing over cash" to Chairman Arafat should be avoided.

(Foreign Minister Peres)

  • Foreign Minister Peres praised Japan's support to the Palestinian Autonomous Areas. Friendly neighbors are better than those who use guns.
  • The current issue is not the lack of a peace plan, but the lack of partners with whom to implement peace. No credibility on Chairman Arafat exists in Israel. Chairman Arafat is a tragedy for the Palestinians.
  • We must fight against terrorism; however, terrorism cannot be stopped unless a political solution is on the horizon. Accordingly, while fighting terrorism, we must also engage in dialogue.
  • Minister Peres opposed taking undue time over the terms of reference of the international conference, and stated what is important is how the conference bears the conclusion.

(Minister of Defense Ben-Eliezer)

  • Both negative and positive aspects exist in the current campaign against terrorism. The negative aspects are that such a campaign will invite further suicide bombings. The positive aspects were that through success in destroying terrorist infrastructure and their leaders, a political breakthrough was brought.
  • The first reform of the Palestinian Authority to be implemented is to stop all forms of terrorism.
  • It is Chairman Arafat who has brought about the current deadlock, and he has initiated the current conflict.

(b) Palestinians:

(Chairman Arafat)

  • (Concerning reform of the Palestinian Authority) legislative, administrative and judicial reforms are currently being implemented. As early as tomorrow, a new Cabinet for the Palestinian Authority will be formed. With the advice of a number of countries, efforts are being made to reorganize the security apparatus. Local elections will be held immediately after the withdrawal of Israeli forces. And a national election for the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority will take place in December, or in January 2003.
  • Japan is the most important of all the donor countries. It is hoped that Japan will also join the quartet, which would also be Japan's right.
  • The G8 will promote acceleration and invigoration of the implementation of the report by the Mitchell Committee, the agreement of the Tenet Undertakings, the proposal by Crown Prince Abdullah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1397.

(Minister Sha'ath)

  • The Palestinian Authority itself also condemns violence, but the Palestinian Authority's capabilities to maintain security are being destroyed by Israel.
  • Through the Palestinians need assistance in the two years since the outbreak of renewed clashes, Japan's assistance has been reduced.

(Mr. Abu Ala)

  • On the evening of 8 June, or the following day, the new cabinet is likely to be formed. The cabinet will comprise the minimum number of ministers, and Mr. Fayyad (former International Monetary Fund (IMF) Palestinian representative) has been appointed as Minister for Financial Affairs. In addition, Chairman Arafat will be appointing a new person to the position of Minister for Home Affairs, a position he currently holds himself.
  • Japan's support to the Palestinian Authority's reform is truly wonderful, and Chairman Arafat is seriously tackling it. The reforms are not something that will have an immediate effect, but are an ongoing process.
  • Japan's involvement is very important for the Palestinians and Japan should participate in an international conference.
  • It is only Chairman Arafat who can realize peace, and he should not be driven into a corner, but encouraged. This message should also be conveyed to the United States.

3. Results

(1) Call for an end to violence

  • Minister Kawaguchi called upon both Prime Minister Sharon and Chairman Arafat to cease the violence without delay. Both leaders stated that it was the other side that should halt the violence. The Israeli side stated their strong sense of distrust of Chairman Arafat, which makes it all the more necessary to call for efforts of patience on both sides.

(2) Early resumption of the political process and Japan's political involvement

  • Minister called for the early implementation of the political process, which is inextricably linked to three processes towards peace ((a) the restoration of security; (b) humanitarian and reconstruction assistance; and (c) political efforts, include the acceleration of negotiations). Basically, both sides offered their support for the convening of an international conference (however, there was no agreement on the contents of the conference, its participants and timing). Both sides supported Japan's involvement in an international conference and in the political process.

(3) Support for the Palestinians (Humanitarian assistance, assistance in reforms of the Palestinian Authority, future roadmap)

  • Minister Kawaguchi announced that Japan continues humanitarian assistance and supports reform of the Palestinian Authority, and she presented a roadmap for assistance according to the progress of the peace process. Both sides recognized and praised the importance of Japan's assistance to the Palestinians. Chairman Arafat demonstrated that he was actively carrying out reforms.

(4) Conclusion

  • At a time when movement in the international community is gaining momentum towards the resumption of the political process and when the reforms by the Palestinian side are being invigorated, Minister Kawaguchi worked on both and exchanged opinions. From now on, discussions will continue also in the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Japan will continue its involvement in this region by Special Envoy Arima and others.
Back to Index