| المستخلص: |
This paper aims to analyze the most important internal and external factors which activated Japan's role in the Middle East during the period of the Cold War, and then explores its effect on Japan's foreign policy for the region, and especially its position on the Palestinian Cause and the Arab-lsraeli Conflict. While Japan did not want to play a role in the Arab region during the period of the Cold War, many factors and new events emerged and changed Japan's traditional attitude towards the region and increased Japan's political and diplomatic involvement. The most important factor, on the interactive level, is the energy issue. The fading fears of the effects of the political developments in the region cases on Japan's economic and oil interests resulting from the peace process between the Arabs and Israel. On the Japanese national level, the major changes were the end of one party control and the easing of restrictions on Japanese army movements and the trend toward constitutional amendment. On the international level, the end of the Cold War, the disappearance of the bipolar dynamic, competition with China to lead the region, and finally all yiance with the United States. As a major conclusion it could be observed that the oil factor, growing business interests, and the American factor have been and remain the most important factors that influence Japanese behavior in the Middle East. They are also the most effective ones regarding its position on the Palestinian Cause. However, American influence is considered to be the most influential factor which limits the Japanese political role in the Middle East and reduces its ability to take a firm positions with Israel regarding the Palestinian Cause.
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