Koizumi plans to visit Israel, Palestine

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi plans to visit Israel and Palestine right before the Group of Eight nations (G8) summit scheduled for mid-July in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kyodo News reported Monday.

When being asked about the issue, Koizumi said he had planned to go in January, but put off the visit because of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's illness, and he would like to go "when the timing is appropriate," Japanese government source was quoted as saying.

Before the aborted visit, Koizumi had planned to call on the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities to make more efforts for building a peaceful Middle East, and to offer Japan's support to the goal, Kyodo said.

Source: Xinhua