Koizumi tells Palestinians to coexist with the Israelis

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed Japan's support Thursday for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, saying the only future for his people is coexistence with Israel and vowing to continue Japanese aid for the Palestinians.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi places his hand Thursday on the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. AP PHOTO

Koizumi, who met Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, is pushing for restraint between the Palestinians and Israelis amid escalating violence over the capture of Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah and Hamas guerrillas.

"My visit here demonstrates Japan's support for President Abbas," Koizumi said after the two finished their meeting. "Abbas is the leader who believes there must be peace and coexistence with Israel."

Japan, however, found it hard to support Hamas -- the Islamist group that won elections in January and now controls the Palestinian government -- because the group does not recognize the importance of dialogue with Israel, said Koizumi, the first Japanese prime minister to visit Israel in 11 years.

"Our wish is for the coexistence and coprosperity of Israel and Palestine," Koizumi said, saying it was the only hope for the future of the Palestinians.

Hamas, which has been called a terrorist organization by the United States, does not recognize Israel.

The new aid announced by Koizumi, roughly $ 30 million, delegation officials said, and will focus on medicine, sanitation and creating jobs. The officials, expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza, said the aid would be directed at helping Palestinians who have been most affected by the rising violence.