Middle East

Against the backdrop of the deterioration of the situation following the terror attacks against Israel by Hamas and others on October 7, 2023, and subsequent Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli-Palestinian issue has since intensified. Japan is convinced that progress of negotiations towards a peace in the Middle East will profoundly ease the tension in the whole region and concurrently will maximize its potential for regional prosperity, in the hope that a just, lasting and comprehensive peace will be realized at the earliest possible time.

Japan is a consistent supporter for a two-state solution whereby Israel and a future independent Palestinian state live side by side in peace and security. Japan urges both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to make further efforts to build mutual trust, to exert maximum restraint for avoiding any unilateral action not conducive to the resumption of the peace talks, and to advance direct negotiations in order to realize a two-state solution at the earliest possible time.

Japan emphasizes that the Israeli Palestinian conflict should be resolved only through negotiations, based on relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Roadmap, the agreements previously reached by the parties and the Arab Peace Initiative, and that any violent acts must be firmly rejected.

Based on the aforementioned position, Japan is committed to actively contribute to the realization of a two-state solution in the process through three pillars of the middle eastern policy; political dialogues with the parties concerned, confidence-building between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides, and economic assistance to the Palestinians. Particularly, Japan will continue to advance its own initiatives such as the conference on the Cooperation among East Asian countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) and the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity”

Japan is of the view that the international community should act to help the Middle East peace process move forward. As such, Japan highly appreciates the peace efforts made by the United States and the Middle East countries. Once the Israeli-Palestinian issue was resolved, it could lead to the reproachment between Israel and Arab countries. As a supporter of the Arab Peace Initiative, Japan urges Israel to consider the Initiative in good faith, and urges Arab countries in turn to respond by taking concrete steps to implement the initiative. Japan stands ready to be actively engaged in such multilateral process when it is initiated.

Japan is deeply concerned that the direct negotiation has long been suspended and strongly urges both sides for its immediate resumption.

Japan takes a position that it will not recognize any unilateral change by either party which may prejudge the final resolution. As in the view that the issues including the final status should be solved through direct negotiation, Japan reaffirms that Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, are in violation of international law and should be immediately and fully frozen, and reiterates its call on Israel to completely freeze its settlement activities.

Japan supports the realization of a two-state solution, acknowledging the strong aspirations of the Palestinians for their future independent state. From this standpoint, Japan supported the United Nations General Assembly resolution to accord Palestine Non-member Observer State status in the United Nations in November 2012. Moreover, in 2024, Japan voted in favor of the UN Security Council draft resolution on the admission of the State of Palestine to the UN as well as the UN General Assembly resolution on adopting additional rights and privileges of its participation. In doing so, Japan understands that Palestine assumes even greater responsibility vis-a-vis the international community. Therefore, Japan strongly urges Palestine to exert further efforts to establish a governance system that ensures accountability, towards　realizing peace in the Middle East, while soliciting Palestine to take a restrained stance against any unilateral actions without negotiations, which may negatively impact the resumption of the direct negotiations.

Under a two-state solution, Japan supports the vision that (1) the borders should be defined through negotiations, based on the 1967 lines, with mutually agreed swaps, in a way that will achieve peaceful co-existence between a viable Palestinian state and Israel with secure and recognized borders. Through such a two-state solution, the Palestinians will be able to fulfill their own rights to establish an independent state, and Israel will be able to enjoy a noticeably enhanced security environment, then both parties will be able to embark upon full-fledged cooperation for mutual prosperity.

(2) The final status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations on the premise that it will be the future capital of both sides. Japan underscores that it will not recognize any unilateral attempt which may prejudge the final status of Jerusalem, including the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem, and expresses deep concern about acts to change the status quo vis-a-vis East Jerusalem, such as the continued and expanded settlement activities and the demolition of Palestinian housings.

(3) Japan considers that the issue of refugees should be resolved through negotiations between the parties concerned in a fair manner as an important element of the final status issues.

Japan is deeply concerned that the Gaza Strip remains under severe humanitarian conditions. In order to break the cycle of repeated armed conflicts and violence between Palestinian armed groups including Hamas and Israel, it is imperative to reach a sustainable ceasefire and hostage release agreement with efforts to establish international stabilization mechanism that guarantees security and safety for Israel and the Palestinians, and in the long run to help the Palestinian Authority achieve its effective governance in Gaza without Hamas.

Since the Oslo Accords, Japan has been committed to assisting the Palestinians with a view to creating a favorable environment for the achievement of peace in the Middle East and has so far provided assistance with its total of 2.6 billion US dollars to date. Especially, Japan is deeply concerned over the acute humanitarian crisis in Gaza since October 2023, and has been providing approximately 240 million US dollars of humanitarian aid and supplies for the Palestinian people, including those in Gaza.

Through the efforts of both diplomacy and assistance, Japan has been working to mitigate the hardships and difficulties faced by the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and to support their economic development. Japan is also determined to contribute to the capacity and institution building that is required to build a viable Palestinian state.

Japan particularly continues to promote, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, Israel and Jordan, the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” initiative that is aimed at establishing a business model for regional cooperation through attracting investment and job creation. For these purposes, Japan will accelerate its efforts to activate the Jericho Agro-Industrial Park, which is the flagship project of the initiative. Japan hopes that limitation of movement of people and access in the West Bank imposed by Israel will be eased, and that such measures will contribute to the development of the Palestinian economy.

In order to contribute to the international efforts to improve economic and social living of the Palestinian refugees, Japan will continue its assistance efforts to help them through United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), of which role is indispensable in supporting Palestine refugees throughout the Middle East region.