Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Israel, the Palestinian territories and Turkey in early January, the government announced Monday.
But the itinerary does not include Iraq, Koizumi told reporters, brushing aside speculation he could make a surprise visit -- his first -- to the country to encourage the troops engaged in reconstruction assistance there.
The planned visit to the Middle East is aimed at urging the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities to put more efforts into advancing peace in the region and at offering Japan's continued support, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said in a news conference.
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