Japan on Wednesday urged Palestinian and Israeli leaders to seize an opportunity presented by talks with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to end the worst Middle East violence in four years.
"As US Secretary of State Albright has vowed to mediate, I hope from the bottom of my heart that such a chance will not be spurned and they will not miss the opportunity," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hidenao Nakagawa said.
Albright was to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Paris Wednesday, seeking to halt clashes in Israel and the Palestinian territories, which have claimed 63 lives.
Nakagawa reiterated Japanese calls for both sides to exercise restraint.
"I would like them to restrain themselves from incitement and violence and seek a settlement of the situation as soon as possible," Nakagawa told a regular news conference.
"I hope for a durable peace in the Middle East. We should not see more victims," he added.
The unrest was triggered by a visit Thursday by Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon to a site in Jerusalem under Muslim guardianship but also considered sacred by Jews – TOKYO (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
