Japan Pledges 40-M.-Dlr Aid for Palestinians

Jericho, West Bank, Dec. 26 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Tuesday that Japan will provide some 40 million dollars in fresh aid to Palestinians. The financial support will be utilized for promoting Japan's Corridor for Peace and Prosperity initiative aimed at developing the Palestinian economy. Kono announced the aid when he visited a farm product-processing complex in the West Bank city of Jericho that plays a core part in the Japanese initiative. At a ceremony for a new area in the industrial park, Kono emphasized that Japan should spare no effort to achieve peace in the Middle East even though there are many hurdles to overcome. Specifically, Kono said that Japan will provide support for developing human resources in the information and communications technology field, starting new businesses and smoothing product distribution systems in the industrial park. On Monday, Kono became the first minister among major countries to hold talks with the top Israeli and Palestinian leaders since U.S. President Donald Trump announced early this month that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In the separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Kono reiterated that Japan supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging them to solve it through direct negotiations. END