THREE-PARTY TALKS PLAN COLLAPSES

It appears that one of Japan’s plans to help foster Arab-Israeli peace has ended in failure. In May, President Mahmud Abbas visited Japan, and Japan had hoped that Prime Minister Sharon might come at the same time. Koizumi himself seems to have taken the initiative in proposing that Japan might facilitate three-party talks in Tokyo. At the time, Israel declined.

However, it now appears that the entire plan has unraveled. First, PM Sharon delayed his Japan visit that was originally scheduled for June 21st due to complications arising from the proposed Gaza pullout.

The Mainichi Shinbun now reports that on July 16th, the Japanese government has indicated that Sharon’s visit will not take place until the fall at the earliest. Japan’s Arab-Israeli peace envoy, Tatsuo Arima, has quoted an Israeli official as saying: “Until at least the Gaza pullout is completed, it will not be possible to visit Japan.”

So ends the most recent attempt by Tokyo to play a major role in the peace talks.