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Last update - 13:48 24/02/2008 Olmert heads to Japan with eye to boosting trade By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent , and Haaretz Service Tags: Israel, U.S., Gaza, Japan Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to leave Sunday on a four-day trip to Japan, with an eye to boosting bilateral trade. Olmert, accompanied by some 20 business people, is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese prime minister. Israel is seeking a Japanese commitment for direct flights from Tokyo, which Japan has rejected over the years, and a free-trade agreement. Japan wants to promote the joint Israel-Jordanian-Japanese-Palestinian "peace corridor" in the Jericho area. Advertisement Haaretz reported last week that Olmert is also expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during the visit. Rice, who asked for the meeting, is said to be concerned over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. At the meeting, Olmert is expected to update Rice on his peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Japan trip is the first by a high-ranking Israeli official since the assassination of Hezbollah No. 2 Imad Mughniyah almost two weeks ago. Army Radio reported that the Japanese security services have bolstered police numbers in Tokyo by ten thousand for the duration of the visit. Related articles: U.S. to announce new aid plan for West Bank, Gaza Strip IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border Five Palestinians killed in IDF Gaza actions over the weekend Bookmark to del.icio.us   Holocaust row U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick. 5 Stops in Galilee Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.

Today Online IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border Responses: 112 Gideon Levy: The Jerusalem issue is easy - half for Jews, half for Palestinians Responses: 29 Zvi Bar'el: No sign of 'Dubya' in Mideast mediation efforts Responses: 5 Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable' Responses: 64 Neo-Nazi turns Haredi after discovering his Jewish roots Responses: 33 Rosner's Domain Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? What America wants from an operation in Gaza Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation More Headlines 08:08 IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border 13:03 PM: We won't fortify every building in Gaza area or Sderot 08:42 Neo-Nazi turns ultra-Orthodox after discovering Jewish roots 12:10 For IDF brigade, 'Hebron is like Wild West and army is the law' 11:16 Iran: Sanctions for 100 years won't stop our nuclear program 12:23 Israeli Americans vote Clinton, but Obama wins global primary 13:44 Lieberman: Arab leaders incite against national service 13:48 Olmert heads to Japan with eye to boosting trade 13:51 IDF soldier accidentally shot by fellow soldier, suffers serious wounds 09:53 ANALYSIS: Iran's delay tactics include denying, lying, refusing 11:22 Berlin Holocaust memorial vandalized for 15th time Previous Editions Select Day 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb

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