In an unprecedented -- but eventually unrealized -- diplomatic initiative to achieve peace in the Middle East, Japan considered brokering a summit between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Jordan next month, government sources said Saturday.
The sources said the idea of brokering the peace summit emerged when the government was preparing for a visit to Egypt by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to attend a ceremony commemorating the completion of a Japanese-funded bridge across the Suez Canal.
When Seiken Sugiura, senior vice foreign minister, met with Koizumi in August after a tour of the Middle East and suggested the prime minister attend the ceremony in Egypt, scheduled for Oct. 9, Koizumi made a positive reply, the sources said.