Japan to Open a Trade Office in Israel in 1997
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JERUSALEM — After years of honoring an Arab boycott, Japan will open a trade promotion office in Israel, Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said Sunday.
Israeli officials enthusiastically welcomed the move.
The opening of the Japanese Export and Trade Organization Office in 1997 will promote economic ties with Israel, said Ruth Kahanoff of Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
“But the biggest importance . . . is that it signals to the Japanese business community that doing business with Israel is kosher,” she said.
Amos Ganor, Israel’s ambassador to Japan, said the announcement “shows Japan has joined other G-7 countries in declaring the Arab boycott over.”
In the past, Japan quietly followed the Arab boycott of Israel for fear of endangering its oil supply. About 70% of Japan’s oil comes from the Middle East.
The Arab boycott has been in place since 1948, when the State of Israel was founded. It was used with particular success after the 1973 Mideast war and the subsequent oil crisis.
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