Japan's Role in and Contributions to Solving
the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Introduction
When I mention the fact that, since the Oslo agreement, Japan has
extended to the Palestinian people US$870 million worth of economic
aid - the third-largest amount after the United States and the
European Union - many Israelis wonder why Japan has given so
generously. Many Palestinians, while expressing deep gratitude,
might add the comment that Japan likes to maintain a low-profile
posture in its involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
These reactions show how little Japan's role in the Middle East
peace process is known to the general public in the region.
This paper will explain what motivates Japan's rather active role
and contributions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and what
policy tools it has used for this purpose. It will also touch upon
Japan's most recent efforts, namely the concept of "the Corridor
for Peace and Prosperity."
Why Does Japan Make an Effort to Contribute to the Middle East
Peace Process?
In the Middle East, which has seen one conflict after another since
the end of the Second World War, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
can be described as the "mother of all conflicts." Not only the
four brutal wars in which Israel and certain Arab countries have
engaged, but also other conflicts such as the Black September
incident in Jordan in 1970, the Israeli invasion into Lebanon in
1982 and the most recent conflict between Israel and Hizbullah are
all directly or indirectly related to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. Radical groups in the region make use of this conflict in
order to legitimize their claims and actions. It may not be true
that all the region's existing conflicts will automatically be
resolved once the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is brought to an
end; however, as long as there is a certain amount of progress in
the peace process, the radical organizations' rhetoric, and
therefore public support for those organizations, will be weakened.
In this sense, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has a unique status
in the peace and stability of the Middle East. And its significance
goes well beyond the region to impact the peace and stability of
the entire world.
One of the many factors that contributed to Japan's success in
reviving its post-World War II economy, now the second-largest in
the world, is its active trade relations, which are possible only
in a peaceful and stable international environment. Naturally, it
serves Japan's interests to maintain such an environment. Due to
the gravity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict vis-à-vis
international peace and stability, it is almost imperative for
Japan to do everything possible to contribute to the resolution of
this "mother of all conflicts."
In November 2006, Foreign Minister Taro Aso launched a new pillar
of Japanese foreign policy: to create an "Arc of Freedom and
Prosperity" along the outer rim of the Eurasian continent,
stretching from Northeast Asia to Central Asia and the Caucasus,
Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. With
this initiative Japan will double its efforts to realize a
situation in which the peoples of these vast regions will enjoy
peace and prosperity through economic development and democracy. As
the Middle East constitutes an integral and significant part of
this "arc," this rather ambitious policy necessitates further
efforts for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Moreover, the peace and stability of the Middle East is directly
linked to Japanese economic activity, in that Japan imports more
that 90% of its crude oil needs from the region. And in today's
globalized economy, what affects the Japanese economy can in turn
reverberate far and wide. Given that Japan's GDP accounts for more
than 10% of the world's GDP - almost as large as the German and
French GDPs combined and twice as large as China's - instability in
the region and its negative effect upon oil exports would not only
have a serious impact on the Japanese national economy but disrupt
economic activities in many other countries. Japan therefore has a
keen interest in ensuring the peace and stability of the region, in
order to maintain both its own and international economic
prosperity.
How Has Japan Contributed to the Middle East Peace Process?
Japan has contributed to the Middle East peace process mainly
through its economic contributions. There are two considerations
behind this policy. First, in Palestine, where the political system
is probably the most democratic in the Arab world, the success of
the peace process depends to a large extent upon the support of the
general public. As long as citizens can see the tangible results of
the process, the process will enjoy their support. Otherwise, they
will feel betrayed and may shift their support to the political
groups and organizations which reject the peace process and
advocate violence. Secondly, the two-state solution means that a
future Palestinian state will live side by side in peace and
security with Israel and other neighboring countries. Such a
Palestinian state should be equipped with a sound basis for viable
economic activity.
In line with this policy, the Japanese government has extended to
the Palestinian people as much as US$870 million since the Oslo
Accords. This aid policy is composed of "four pillars": emergency
humanitarian aid, support for nation-building and reforms, support
for confidence-building and support for realizing a self-sustaining
economy. Economic assistance has been delivered both bilaterally
and through international organizations such as UNDP, UNRWA and
UNICEF, and they cover a variety of fields including health and
sanitation, education, water and various infrastructures.
The following are some of the unique features of Japan's official
assistance to the Palestinians:
1) An emphasis on technical assistance. Successful nation-building
is only possible through the dedicated endeavors of highly capable
engineers and bureaucrats. It requires long-term, committed efforts
toward capacity-building. So far Japan has invited more than 1,000
young Palestinians to attend seminars, workshops and training
courses in Japan, and as many as 40 Japanese experts have provided
training to Palestinians in various fields.
2) A comprehensive regional development plan. There is a risk of
the Palestinian territories being developed in a disorderly manner,
because numerous donors and NGOs are participating in economic
development, and the Palestinian Authority is not strong enough to
effectively control their activities. In order to avoid random and
unsystematic development, it is of utmost importance to prepare a
well-designed, long-term development plan. Japan has completed a
comprehensive development plan (master plan) for the Jericho area,
which presents several ways to turn the rich agricultural resources
and tourist attractions in the area into engines for sound economic
development. It also provides measures to solve problems such as
solid waste management and maternal and child healthcare, by
establishing effective local administrative organizations and
empowering local officials.
3) Founding a sound basis for economic development. The history of
Japan's and other Asian countries' post-war development
demonstrates the importance of effectively combining the activities
of private companies with a sound basis for economic development,
which should be established by the government. Therefore the
Japanese government has always paid serious attention to this issue
and has implemented many projects out of this conviction. Such
projects include the reconstruction of Allenby Bridge, which now
plays a pivotal role in the distribution of goods and people
between the West Bank and Jordan, and the construction of Saladin
Road in the Gaza Strip.
Compared to its economic role, Japan's political role in the peace
process is rather limited. Nonetheless, it has played some
significant roles, both direct and indirect. In one direct role,
Japan serves as the chair of the environmental issues working group
within the multi-lateral track; indirectly, Japan actively
participates in discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
within the framework of the G8 and the UN Security Council. In this
context, it is worth mentioning Japan's diplomatic efforts on the
occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference; Japan
took the initiative to include support for the two-state solution
and the Road Map in the foreign ministers' declaration. The
reference to the two-state solution and the Road Map could tacitly
imply recognition of Israel, yet all the foreign ministers,
including those representing countries without diplomatic relations
with Israel, unanimously agreed on the inclusion.
The Concept of the "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity"
This new initiative, the Japanese government's most recent
endeavor, was launched in July 2006 when former Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi visited Israel, Palestine and Jordan, whose
leaders warmly welcomed and supported the idea.
This concept did not come out of the blue, but rather emerged from
the previous experience of Japan's assistance to the Palestinians,
in particular the reconstruction of Allenby Bridge and the
development of the agricultural sector in the Jericho area. The key
element of this concept is to establish an agro-industrial park in
the Jordan Rift Valley area and to export agricultural products to
Jordan and beyond to the Gulf countries, with the aim of
strengthening agricultural development in the West Bank. It is also
designed to foster mutual confidence and trust among the three
concerned parties - Israel, Palestine and Jordan - through meetings
and activities necessary to implement the concept.
In order to realize this concept, the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) sent to the region a project formulation
team in November 2006. The team formulated two technical
cooperation projects which will play auxiliary roles and collected
necessary information for the agro-industry park project. An
additional team of experts will be sent in March 2007 to determine
the site for an agro-industrial park and to conduct other necessary
studies.
Conclusion
It is true that the geographical and historical distances between
Japan and the Middle East may be seen as impeding Japan from
playing an important role in solving the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. However, the current stage of globalization no longer
allows Japan to take a passive position vis-à-vis any regional
conflict. The peace and stability of the Middle East is so closely
linked to its vital national interests that it is only natural for
Japan to make an effort to settle the "mother of all conflicts."
And to this end Japan is using its diplomatic resources in a unique
manner, to try to engage in the peace process in a uniquely
"Japanese" style.