ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN TOKYO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000492 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2018 TAGS: PREL ETRD IS JA SUBJECT: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN TOKYO Classified By: Ambassador J.T. Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Tokyo February 25 to begin a four day visit to Japan. Accompanied by a 24-member business delegation, a main priority of the visit will be to bolster bilateral economic ties. In addition to bilateral ties, regional issues such as the Middle East Peace Process, North Korea, and Iran will also likely be discussed, although Japan hopes to play down Iran, anxious that too much media attention on this subject will come to dominate the public views of the visit. During the visit, Prime Minister Olmert will also meet with the Secretary, who will be in Tokyo at the same time. This visit SIPDIS will be the third to Japan by a sitting Israeli Prime Minister. PM Olmert has visited in the past, but in a lesser capacity. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The major goal of Prime Minister Olmert's visit to Japan is to enhance bilateral economic ties, according to contacts at the Israeli Embassy. On Tuesday, February 26, the PM will host a small breakfast for major business figures. This will be followed by an economic seminar to be attended by an estimated 400 participants. That evening, the PM will host an "executive level" dinner for 100 guests. The sole political meeting of the day will be with the Minister of Defense, who will call on PM Olmert in the early evening. ¶3. (C) Political relations will be the focus on Wednesday, February 27. The Prime Minister will be received by the Emperor, and will meet separately with Foreign Minister Koumura and Prime Minister Fukuda, who will also host a "social" dinner. Olmert will also have meetings with former Prime Minister Koizumi, former Foreign Minister Aso, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Sadako Ogata, who plans to visit the Middle East in early March. ¶4. (C) In addition to discussing ways to improve the bilateral relationship, regional political issues will also be discussed. Japan's support for the Middle East Peace Process will be highlighted, and other topics bound to be raised are Japan's concerns about North Korea, and Israel's worries about Iran. MOFA Second Middle East Division contacts have told us they would like to downplay any conversations about Iran, fearing it is likely the press will focus on this issue to the exclusion of others. The Israeli Embassy confirms Japan is skittish about Iran, but said the subject will be addressed. One other potentially uncomfortable topic will be the case of a Japanese "translator" who last month was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet, allegedly by Israeli security personnel, while he was "observing" a protest in the West Bank about the separation wall. The story of his condition has been in the Japanese press leading up to the visit. ¶5. (C) On Thursday, February 28, the Prime Minister is scheduled to host a breakfast meeting with Secretary Rice. He will then tour the Nissan factory and end the day with a press conference, prior to departing at approximately 22:00 hours. ¶6. (SBU) According to a list provided by the Israeli Embassy, the business delegation accompanying the Prime Minister will be led by Mr. Shraga Brosh, President and Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Israel and the Federation of Israeli Economic Organizations. Other members include: -- Mr. Meir Dalum, Managing Director, A.Dalumi Diamonds, LTD. -- Mr. Imad Younis, President and Owner, Alpha Omega (medical devices); -- Mr. Shai Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place (electric recharge grid): -- Mr. Arie Mintkavich, Chairman, Elron Electronic Industries, LTD.; -- Mr. Imad Telhami, Founder and CEO, ETN Environmental Technology Network; -- Mr. Israel Makov, Chairman, Given Imaging (medical technology); -- Mr. Zeev Holtzman, Chairman and Founder, Giza Venture Capital; -- Mr. Elchanan Harel, Founder and President, Harel Hertz Investment House, LTD.; -- Mr. Ehud Rassabi, President, Israel-Japan Chamber of TOKYO 00000492 002 OF 002 Commerce; -- Ms. Orna Berry, Chairperson, Israeli Ventures Association, Gemini Israel Funds; -- Mr. Shmuel "Sam" Topaz, Chairman and CEO, Ham-Let (Israel-Canada) LTD (semiconductor instrumentation); -- Mr. Oded Tamir, CEO, InSightec (medical imaging); -- Mr. Sami Sagol, Chairman, Keter (home improvement products); -- Mr. Elisha Yanai, Chairman, Motorola Israel, LTD.; -- Mr. Ahmad Afifi, CEO, Nazarene Tours (Afifi Group); -- Mr. Gabi Seligsohn, President and CEO, Nova Measuring Instruments, LTD.; -- Mr. Yoav Doppelt, CEO, Ofer Group (private equity for technology and healthcare); -- Mr. Ruziak Yaron, Chairman, Ralco Agencies LTD. (Sharp Japan distributor); -- Dr. Roni Bornstein, President and Owner, Rakuto Kasei (Israel)(Japanese food imports); -- Mr. Ilan Samuel, Board Member, Israel Diamond Exchange; -- Mr. Yoram Oran, Founder and Managing Director, Vertex (venture capital); -- Mr. Shauli Katznelson, Deputy Director General, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute; -- Ms. Rachel Ezrati, Executive, Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute. SCHIEFFER