Comment at end
25th November, 2009
Now that the EU in its “wisdom” has gone for A N Other as EU President it’s time for the Quartet and others to stop messing about in the Middle East “peace process”. They need to give REAL power to the man who has already changed the business and infrastructure geography there. It is my humble opinion, but what do I know (?) that certain parties were hoping he’d lead Europe to greater political influence over a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. No chance now – with Pompeii and The Other One.
So, give Blair the tools and he’ll do the job. But make it snappy. Otherwise, with tensions resurfacing in Northern Ireland, Brown may soon be asking him to be Envoy to the Province. It was peaceful when he left office. So what’s happening there now, in this Blairless, careless land? Pouring oil on troubled waters is Blair’s gift to politics (oh, yes it is!) DON’T let him go to waste.
Tony Blair calls for credible political negotiation combined with real change on the ground
Quartet Representative Tony Blair today said that the key for progress in the Middle East is to combine a credible political negotiation with real change on the ground, in institution-building, security performance and economic development.
US Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell told journalists in Washington DC that the Government of Israel’s announcement to limit settlement construction for ten months could mark a step toward restarting peace talks.
“It falls short of a full settlement freeze, but it is more than any Israeli government has done before and can help movement toward agreement between the parties,” Senator Mitchell said. “We believe the steps announced by the Prime Minister [Netanyahu] are significant and could have substantial impact on the ground.”
Senator Mitchel said: “For the first time ever an Israeli government will stop housing approvals and all new construction of housing units and related infrastructure in West Bank settlements. That’s a positive development.”
Tony Blair said: “Today’s announcements are an important step towards creating the possibility for serious and credible negotiations for a two-state solution.
“The key, as I have said consistently, is to combine a credible political negotiation with real change on the ground, in institution-building, security performance and economic development. This is the only way for the Palestinian state to be viable and the security of Israel to be assured. I applaud the sustained leadership of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and Special Envoy George Mitchell.
“For our part the Office of the Quartet Representative will continue to work hard for the recent growth on the West Bank to be sustained and expanded, for the changes in Access and Movement to be deepened; and for a different strategy on Gaza that we believe is essential to be brought about, along with the immediate release of Gilad Shalit.”
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a representative of the Middle East Diplomatic Quartet made up of the European Union, the United States, the Russian Federation and the United Nations, called the announcement “an important step towards creating the possibility for serious and credible negotiations for a two-state solution.
“The key, as I have said consistently, is to combine a credible political negotiation with real change on the ground, in institution-building, security performance and economic development,” Blair said.
- Blair backs the Guardian! Yes, you read it right. Blair backs the Guardian’s “freedom of the press” campaign centred around an Iraqi journalist. If ever you had any doubts about the nous of our former prime minister, often and still the prey of the ‘feral beasts’, his political and freedom credentials are on display in this story.
Tags: give Blair power in Middle East, Middle East Peace, Tony Blair, Tony Blair Office
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Success Tony Blair, Prime Minister – Howbeit quiet or not is success. The mid-east needs an real concrete-solid commitment, unwaving support, and respect to achieve lasting peace. I believe it needs to come through an independent objective outside source.