By JPOST.COM STAFFJapan has offered to facilitate negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and to take "an active part in the peace process," during Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's planned visit to the region in January, Koizumi told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
It is unclear whether Israel is interested in the intervention of countries other than the United States in the peace process with the Palestinians, Army Radio reported.