Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan has welcomed the announcement by the United States concerning the resumption of assistance to the Palestinians, Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Tomoyuki Yoshida said in a statement on Friday.

America’s assistance includes $150 million in humanitarian assistance for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

The Foreign Ministry statement said: “Japan believes that the resumption of US assistance for the Palestinians will contribute to the betterment of livelihood of the Palestinians, who are facing increasing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also strengthen the roles and missions of UNRWA, to which Japan has attached importance and offered substantial support.

The statement underscored Japan’s support for a solution to the Palestinians’ conflict with Israel: “Japan has been working to facilitate political dialogue with the parties concerned, extending economic assistance to the Palestinians’ future state-building efforts, and promoting confidence-building between the two sides, based on its position to support a ‘two-state solution’. Japan will continue these efforts in cooperation with the international community, including the United States.”