Japan will give $720,000 in grant aid to the Palestinian Authority and dispatch an election-monitoring mission to assist in the election of the Palestinian legislature in January, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Tuesday.

Of the amount, $500,000 will be earmarked to support the Palestinian election commission in its effort to raise awareness and educate voters about the Jan. 25 election, Aso told reporters.

The remainder will go to the U.N. Development Program to help with the activities of an international election-monitoring mission, the Foreign Ministry said.

The aid is aimed at ensuring that the election will be conducted fairly and smoothly, the ministry said.