Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is eyeing a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories in January, government sources said Friday.
Koizumi is hoping to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for talks on peace in the Middle East, and ties between Japan and the regions, the sources said.
Koizumi hopes to tell Sharon and Abbas that Japan is willing to continue to play a proactive role in international efforts to advance the peace process in the Middle East, according to the sources.
Tokyo had hoped Sharon and Abbas would come to Japan separately this year. Abbas visited in May but Sharon has not, mainly due to political problems at home.
Hanoi security talks
Tetsuo Kutsukake, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, said Friday he will attend a ministerial meeting on public security next Wednesday in Hanoi with counterparts from 12 other Asian countries.
The participants include the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea. They plan to discuss ways to improve cooperation on borderless crimes.
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