Quds city, March 7, SPA -- The Israeli and Palestinian leaders have accepted invitations to travel to Japan, possibly for a summit meeting, but dates for the visits haven't been set, officials said Monday. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has accepted the invitation "in principle," a senior official said. He added that Sharon is willing to participate in a summit with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, but said a date or agenda for the visit hasn't been set. Abbas said on Saturday that he had accepted an invitation from Japan as well, and that he would probably go in May. Abbas made no mention of a joint meeting with Sharon. Japan's foreign minister, Nobutaka Machimura, invited both men to Japan during a visit to the region in January. An official at the Japanese Embassy in Tel Aviv said Monday that his government is still waiting for a formal answer from the two leaders and that the agenda of their visits is still up in the air. "If they come together, it would be nice," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But it depends on the situation. Whatever they would like to raise, they are welcome."
