On the announcement of the Government of Israel regarding the construction of housing units at a settlement in the vicinity of Jerusalem
(Statement by the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary)

Embassy of Japan
March 12, 2008

On March 12, Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Press Secretary issued the following statement on the announcement of the Government of Israel regarding the construction of housing units at a settlement in the vicinity of Jerusalem.  

1. The Government of Japan is concerned about the recent approval of the Government of Israel regarding the resumption of construction of approximately 750 housing units at the settlement of Giv’at Ze’ev located in the vicinity of Jerusalem, and calls upon the Government of Israel to immediately review the plan of the construction as it might have negative impacts on the current peace process.

2. Especially while the peace negotiations between the Israeli and the Palestinian sides, which were relaunched by the Annapolis Conference, have fallen into difficulties due to the recent situation in the Gaza Strip and the southern Israel and the terrorist shooting attack in Jerusalem, such a unilateral measure of the housing construction in the controversial settlements, following the announcement in last December, might further undermine the momentum for peace and could never make any constructive contribution to the confidence-building between the parties concerned.

3. As Japan hopes that a peace agreement will be reached as soon as possible and peaceful co-existence and co-prosperity will be realized between the Israelis and the Palestinians, we strongly hope that the Israeli side will fulfill the Road Map obligations and will make due efforts with maximum self-restraint and good-faith for the bilateral negotiations in order not to deteriorate the situation on the ground.

[Related links]
*Middle East Peace Process (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/peaceprocess/index.html

*Japan-Israel Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/israel/index.html

*Japan-Palestinian Authorities (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s website)