ME mediators considering Blair for a top peacemaking post

[Lord Zentei]

Mid-East group debates Blair role

The Quartet of Middle East mediators is considering naming Tony Blair for a top peacemaking post, diplomats say.

Mr Blair steps down on Wednesday as UK prime minister and officials from the EU, Russia, the UN and US are working to define a possible new role for him.

It is the Quartet's first meeting since Hamas militants took control of security from pro-Fatah rivals in Gaza.

The US has signalled its desire for a role for Mr Blair, but many Arabs see him as too pro-American and Israeli.

Separately, Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said he would ask his government to release 250 jailed Fatah members.

Mr Olmert was speaking at a summit in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh that was also attended by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah of Jordan.

The summit was aimed at boosting Mr Abbas and his Fatah movement after he dissolved the Hamas-led government and named an emergency cabinet of his supporters.

The efforts to strengthen Mr Abbas's position are continuing on Tuesday with talks between President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, but was boycotted by Israel and isolated internationally because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Controversial figure

Mr Blair has said several times that he is committed to advancing peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

But correspondents say he is a controversial figure in the Middle East, primarily because of the war in Iraq.

He was also much criticised in the region for refusing to condemn Israel's bombardment of Lebanon in 2006.

BBC Jerusalem correspondent Tim Franks says Israeli officials enthuse about Mr Blair's status and experience. Palestinians are far more sceptical as to whether he would be able to make any lasting difference.

The Russians are said to be cool about his possible appointment, but are not expected to block it.

A spokesman for the Islamist Hamas group said that "the experience of our people with Blair was bad" and his appointment "may even make things worse".

The meeting at the US consulate in Jerusalem was closed to the media and the British Embassy in Tel Aviv would not confirm reports that Mr Blair's role was under discussion.

Reports in the British media said he would not act as a mediator to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, but might be responsible for working with the Palestinians on security, economy and governance.

Hamas offer

On Monday, the ousted Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, said his group was ready to talk to Fatah again after last week's upheaval.

A spokesman for Mr Haniya in Gaza said Hamas was "disposed to immediately take up this dialogue" urged by Mr Mubarak.

In a separate development, Mr Olmert told the gathering: "As a gesture of goodwill towards the Palestinians, I will bring before the Israeli cabinet a proposal to free 250 Fatah prisoners who do not have blood on their hands."

He added that those freed would have to sign a commitment not to return to violence.

About 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, some without charge.

For his part, Mr Abbas urged Israel to "start serious political negotiations, according to an agreed time frame, with the aim of setting up an independent Palestinian state".

No comment needed, methinks.

[Darth Tanner]

I heard a joke on the news that Gordon Brown is going to be supporting Tony Blair's appointment on the condition that his offices are in the Gaza strip.

That aside does anyone think this is even remotely sane? A man who helped start two wars in the middle east, both of which are still being waged to the detriment of the people of the middle east being charged with promoting peace! And the fact that the Arabs think he's just a Israeli tool probably isn't going to help.

[K. A. Pital]

Hmm... the only worse idea is to make Shrub or Cheney a "peacemaker post"

[Pelranius]

One just can't make this stuff up. Chances are he'll end up aggravating the Israelis as much as he annoys the Palestinians.

I've also heard rumors he's planning to convert to Roman Catholicism, which I hope not. Sharing the same planet with Bush's poodle is bad enough, don't get me started on sharing the same denomination.

[Sea Skimmer]

Its not like the peace process has any hope right now anyway. Blair being seen as tainted goods by the Arabs isn't going to matter much.

[Anguirus]

Wow, this seems even more calculated to piss off people than knighting Salman Rushdie.*

Though who knows, maybe he'll pull a Jimmy Carter and turn into a brilliant ex-executive/peacemaker.




*Should not be construed as disapproval of Rushdie's knighting.

[Lord Woodlouse]

If the association with Bush and the War in Iraq can be overcome (no small potatos, I know) I think this post would be very good for him. He's well suited to diplomacy, I feel.

[Darth Tanner]

He has apparently accepted the position.

linky

Tony Blair has already accepted the post of new peacemaking envoy to the Middle East, according to Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Mr Blair at recent EU summit"I spoke to him about this on Friday night. I can tell you that's exactly what he's going to do," Mr Ahern said on TV.

Mr Ahern said Mr Blair, who is due to step down as PM today, told him the mission would be "tricky".

"But he believes if there's persistent engagement... it's like in Northern Ireland, where you just have to stay at it.

"He believes if you have hands-on, persistent engagement then you can have real progress.

"He is going to put a large amount of his personal time into this after today."

Officials in Washington have said Mr Blair will be confirmed as Mid East envoy later today after he formally quits Downing Street.

His appointment has been discussed by representatives of the US, United Nations, European Union and Russia - the so-called Quartet - at talks in Jerusalem.

The post became vacant after former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn resigned in April last year.

According to US officials, it will primarily involve helping the Palestinian Authority to build political institutions.

The position will not - at least to begin with - involve direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.

It is expected to be unpaid but come with staff and logistical support.

To fulfil his envoy duties, Mr Blair will also have to resign as an MP.

I'm surprised that hes taking an unpaid position though, with mortgages like his.

[Battlehymn Republic]

Isn't his diplomatic record in Northern Ireland pretty solid, though?

[Prozac the Robert]

The thing people forget is that despite all his faults, he is a really talented politician. He's no GWB who had money, connections, membership of the party that won the last lot of elections and still scraped though to a supreme court decision and narrow victory.

Blair started his political career with no real advantages, got to be leader through talent and then led Labour to completely thrash the Conservatives ("the natural party of government" don't forget).

And while he didn't necessarily do that much of the Northern Ireland stuff himself, he didn't do anything to bungle it either.

I'd say he has a fair chance of doing some good. It would have been better if they could have got him doing another job that wasn't in the middle east, because then he wouldn't have nearly so much baggage to overcome. On the other hand, this could be his way to redeem himself and perhaps he'll work even harder if it's going to save the legacy.