Japan will host a two-day aid donors' meeting for Palestinian-controlled areas in Israel in October as part of international efforts to boost the Middle East peace process under a renewed pledge for peace by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Friday.
During the Oct. 14-15 meeting in Tokyo, the sixth session since November 1993, Japan intends to take the initiative in providing effective and efficient support for Palestinian-controlled areas in Israel, Komura told a news conference.
Yasser Arafat, head of the Palestinian Authority and chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy are expected to participate in the meeting, Komura said.
To prepare for the meeting, the government plans to dispatch a mission today to assess the needs of the Palestinians, he said.
The international community has been considering ways to add momentum to the peace process after Arafat backed off on threats to declare an independent Palestinian state in May and moderate Barak was elected Israeli prime minister the same month.