PanOrient News | Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba Supports More Palestinians, Israeli Negotiations

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Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba Supports More Palestinians, Israeli Negotiations

Monday, September 26, 2011

Tokyo- (PanOrient News) Japan "wholeheartedly" welcomed the statement released by the Quartet Ministerial Meeting, which calls for the early resumption of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

A statement issued by Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba today said that Japan welcomes this development and strongly supports it and respect for the vigorous diplomatic efforts by the members of the Quartet with a view to the resumption of negotiation.

The statement said that Japan has consistently addressed its view where Japan understands the Palestinian's aspiration for the nation-building and has contributed to the nation-building efforts of a Palestinian state.

Japan will continue to contribute to the efforts by the international community for the realization of a two-state solution whereby both parties coexist in peace and security. In addition, Japan would like to cooperate in assistance to the Palestinians' nation-building, including the promotion of the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" Initiative, and confidence-building between both parties, Foreign Minister Gemba said.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made the bid for the United Nations to recognize an independent state of Palestine on Friday, a move Israel says is premature without direct talks that address its longstanding security concerns.

The formal application drew applause in the assembly when the Palestinian leader raised the document at the podium during his speech at the 66th annual session of the General Assembly.

Hamas, however, criticized Abbas saying that “serious contradictions” were obvious in Abbas’s address to the United Nations ahead of the PLO’s appeal for full membership in the international organization.

“Although Abbas described (Israel’s) crimes and the displacement (of Palestinians), he concedes 80 percent of Palestine to such an enemy,” Hamas said.

Abbas also deprived the Palestinian refugees of the right of return to the occupied territories when speaking on an “agreed upon resolution”, and deprived them of the right of resistance and locked them into peaceful protests, Hamas said.

"Although Abbas admits to the failure of peace talks with Israel, he stated that he is determined to resume negotiations and that he is committed to the options of diplomacy after 20 years of failure.

PanOrient News