Before leaving Israel, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to cooperate with the Jewish state to fight terror, The Japan Times reported yesterday:

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to work together to enhance anti-terrorism measures as they held talks Sunday in Jerusalem, Japanese officials said.

“Despicable acts of terrorism cannot be tolerated whatever reasons there may be,” Abe said in reference to the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

Abe was the first Japanese leader to visit Israel in nine years. His visit comes as the Islamic State group demanded $200 million in ransom for the release of two Japanese hostages.

Abe and Netanyahu attended an innovation exhibition in Jerusalem displaying cutting-edge Israeli technology (embedded below).

Last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Japan and warned that Iran was helping North Korea develop its nuclear program. A few months after Netanyahu’s visit to Japan, the two nations signed a research and development deal. Israel’s growing ties with Japan reflect a trend of growing trade between Israel and Asia.

[Photo: IsraeliPM / YouTube ]