英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 30, 2013
Israeli-Palestinian talks resumption 1st step in U.S. Mideast peace effort
パレスチナ和平　米国の仲介努力は奏功するか（7月29日付・読売社説）

It is imperative to ensure that emerging positive signs in the Middle East result in a resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians after a hiatus of about three years.
　イスラエルとパレスチナの約３年ぶりの直接交渉の実現へ、つなげることが肝要だ。

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who has pressured Israel and the Palestinian Authority since March, announced on July 19 that both sides “have reached an agreement that establishes a basis for resuming direct final status negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.” Ministerial-level officials from both parties are to meet in the near future to work out the terms and preconditions for the negotiations, according to U.S. government officials.
　イスラエルとパレスチナ自治政府に和平交渉再開を働きかけてきたケリー米国務長官が、「交渉再開のための基本的な部分で合意に達した」と発表した。
　近く、双方の閣僚級の担当者が詰めの協議を行うという。

The Palestinian Authority has set the goal of establishing a Palestinian state, and Japan, the United States and European nations as well as Arab states have thrown their support behind this goal.
　自治政府側は、パレスチナ国家樹立を目標に掲げており、日米欧やアラブ諸国は支持している。

Kerry’s endeavors pay off

The long-envisaged establishment of a Palestinian state, however, will not be possible without Israel’s agreement. We strongly hope the Israelis and Palestinians hold direct talks to begin the process of having the two sides live side by side in peace and security.
ただ、イスラエルの同意が不可欠だ。イスラエルと自治政府の直接交渉が再開され、平和共存への歩みが始まることを、期待したい。

The broad agreement is the fruit of mediation efforts by Kerry, who, after assuming the post of secretary of state in February, traveled many times to the Middle East.
　今回の基本合意は、２月に就任したケリー国務長官が何度も中東に足を運び、仲介した成果だ。

With upheavals continuing in the wake of the Arab Spring, U.S. policies have been put to the test. While the civil war in Syria has bogged down with no clear end in sight, Egypt, a major power in the Middle East, has been unable to resolve its political problems.
　「アラブの春」の激動が続く中東で、米国の存在感が問われている。シリア内戦は泥沼化し、地域の大国エジプトは政情不安定から抜け出せないでいる。

It appears the United States hopes to play a role conducive to stabilizing the Middle East situation by using its diplomatic leverage to bring about peace between Israel and Palestinians.
　米国は、イスラエルとパレスチナの和平仲介を中東外交立て直しの契機とし、中東の安定に役割を果たしたいのだろう。

The basic accord to hold preliminary talks appears partly due to Israel’s adopting more moderate policies after realizing its inflexible hard-line stance in dealing with the Palestinians left it internationally isolated.
　基本合意の成立は、強硬一辺倒のパレスチナ政策で国際的に孤立したイスラエルが、軌道修正を図ったことにもよる。

In a U.N. General Assembly session last year, a resolution in favor of giving the Palestinian Authority the status of a “nonmember observer state” was adopted by an overwhelming majority vote despite intense opposition from the United States and Israel.
　昨年の国連総会では、米国、イスラエルの反対にもかかわらず、パレスチナに「オブザーバー国家」の地位を与える決議案が、圧倒的多数で可決された。

Israel’s sense of crisis increased when the international community, particularly Israel’s biggest trade partner, Europe, intensified criticism of Israel’s continuing construction of settlements in the West Bank.
　ヨルダン川西岸への入植活動強行に対し、国際社会、とりわけ最大の貿易相手の欧州が批判を強めていることに、イスラエルは危機感を強めている。

A freeze in settlement construction would help pave the way for realizing a resumption of dialogue with the Palestinian Authority.
　イスラエルが入植活動を中止することで、自治政府との対話再開への道も開くのではないか。

The Palestinian Authority, on the other hand, must resolve the current situation in which its authority is limited only to the West Bank, with the Gaza Strip remaining under the control of the Islamist organization Hamas. This is essential for the Palestinian Authority if it wants to show that it is the proper party to negotiate with the Israelis.
　自治政府の側も、交渉当事者の能力を示すには、統治が及ぶのはヨルダン川西岸だけでガザ地区はイスラム主義組織ハマスの支配下のまま、という現状を解消する必要がある。

Japan must help out

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida toured the Middle East region last week. In separate meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, he pressed them to resume peace talks.
　岸田外相は先週、中東を歴訪し、イスラエルのネタニヤフ首相、パレスチナ自治政府のアッバス議長とそれぞれ会談し、和平交渉の再開を促した。

In addition, Kishida conferred with ministers from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan over ways to utilize an agricultural park to process farm produce. The park is under construction in the West Bank city of Jericho with the support of Japan.
　また、日本の支援でヨルダン川西岸エリコに建設中の農産加工団地の活用を巡って、イスラエル、自治政府、ヨルダンの関係閣僚と４者協議を行った。

The agreement among Kishida and the others on the project should be rated highly.
　岸田外相らが協力緊密化で合意したのは、評価できる。

Japan must continue to make such diplomatic efforts by extending a helping hand to encourage peace moves by the Israelis and Palestinians.
　和平を側面支援するこうした外交努力を、今後も継続したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 29, 2013)
（2013年7月29日01時19分 読売新聞）