Japan May Break Rank, Resume Funding of the Palestinian Authority

May 10 (EIRNS) - Japan is ready to break ranks with Western nations and resume funding the Palestinian Authority (PA), despite a mandate by the Quartet (U.S., Russia, the United Nations and European Union) to freeze payments to the Hamas-led PA government, Yomiuri Shimbun reported on May 10.

Japanese Foreign Ministry officials are scheduled to visit the area in June. Following the visit, it is expected that Tokyo would announce resumption of funding to the PA following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent Middle East tour-- the second trip to the region by a Japanese prime minister in less than 16 months. By visiting five Arab countries in a single trip, Abe put in place a wide range of economic, political and strategic objectives for Japan for the region. Topping his agenda was securing energy supplies for Japan.

Japan stopped funding to the PA following the electoral victory of the Hamas in the 2006 elections. At the time the Japanese Foreign Ministry had said Tokyo would resume funding once it becomes clear that Hamas is committed to the Mideast peace process.

But Japan's decision to stop funding to the Hamas-led PA government in 2006 did not affect pre-existing aid projects such as repairing roads, building homes and food aid. Since 1993, Japan has given $840 million in aid to the Palestinians.