Kan urges resumption of peace talks between Israel, Palestinians

TOKYO, Nov. 24 Kyodo -
(EDS: RECASTING, ADDING INFO)
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad
on Wednesday to resume peace negotiations with Israel, Japanese officials said,
as direct peace talks between the two sides remain stalled because of Israeli
settlement on the West Bank.
During their meeting in Tokyo, Kan said he ''sincerely wishes'' that the two
parties would restart their talks so they can coexist peacefully.
In response, Fayyad was quoted by the officials as saying the Palestinians will
engage in the peace negotiations, but did not make it clear if the talks with
Israel could resume.
Direct peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas finally resumed in September for the first
time since the end of 2008, but they were suspended in early October after the
Israelis opposed a freeze of Jewish settlement construction on the West Bank.
Fayyad, who also serves as finance minister, expressed his gratitude to Kan for
the assistance that Japan has extended to the Palestinians through the years,
and asked for Japan's continued support as they complete their preparations for
statehood by 2011.
Kan told the visiting Palestinian premier that Japan will continue to support
nation-building efforts by the Palestinians and to this end will provide aid
worth about $100 million in the current fiscal year for infrastructure and
other projects, the officials said.
==Kyodo