Israeli, Japanese premiers call for closer cooperation

JERUSALEM - The leaders of Israel and Japan have called for greater bilateral economic cooperation during a meeting in Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on yesterday that "The future belongs to those who innovate. Japan is a country of innovation, Israel is a country of innovation...together we can do a lot more."

It is the first visit to Israel by a Japanese premier since 2006.

"Japan and Israel are both countries that don't have much of the natural resources but what we have is human resources," Abe said, adding that ties are growing "in every field."

Abe is on a six-day visit to the Middle East with a delegation of more than 100 government officials and presidents of Japanese companies.