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23/07/2007
Envoy Blair begins first Middle East visit
Tony Blair is beginning a two-day visit to Israel as part of his first visit to the region in his new post as special envoy to the Middle East.
Earlier on Monday, the former British Prime Minister met with Jordan's foreign minister in Amman.
He later travelled to Tel Aviv and is expected to meet with foreign and defence ministers from Israel on Monday, as well as a top US diplomat in Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, he is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Mr Blair's new role will see him act on behalf of the Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the European Union, United Nations, US and Russia.
His task is to encourage reform, economic development and institution building in the Palestinian territories, but not to act as a peace negotiator between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority welcomed Mr Blair's appointment. However, Palestinian faction Hamas said that Mr Blair had not been helpful or honest during his time as British Prime Minister, because of his positions regarding the war in Iraq and Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Mr Blair's mandate does not allow him to communicate with Hamas, which is blacklisted by the US as a terrorist group. He can only deal with President Abbas, who now controls only the West Bank, following Hamas' seizure of control of the Gaza Strip last month.
According to reports, many people in the region believe that Mr Blair's mandate is too limited to make a difference in the region.
(KMcA/SP)
Earlier on Monday, the former British Prime Minister met with Jordan's foreign minister in Amman.
He later travelled to Tel Aviv and is expected to meet with foreign and defence ministers from Israel on Monday, as well as a top US diplomat in Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, he is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Mr Blair's new role will see him act on behalf of the Quartet of Middle East negotiators - the European Union, United Nations, US and Russia.
His task is to encourage reform, economic development and institution building in the Palestinian territories, but not to act as a peace negotiator between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority welcomed Mr Blair's appointment. However, Palestinian faction Hamas said that Mr Blair had not been helpful or honest during his time as British Prime Minister, because of his positions regarding the war in Iraq and Israel's war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Mr Blair's mandate does not allow him to communicate with Hamas, which is blacklisted by the US as a terrorist group. He can only deal with President Abbas, who now controls only the West Bank, following Hamas' seizure of control of the Gaza Strip last month.
According to reports, many people in the region believe that Mr Blair's mandate is too limited to make a difference in the region.
(KMcA/SP)
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