Tony Blair resigns as Quartet's Mideast envoy

[Casino67]

Haaretz:

The Quarter - which includes the U.S., the European Union, Russia and the United Nations — appointed the former British prime minister to the post in 2007 with the goal of helping develop the Palestinian economy and institutions.

 

 

Former British prime minister Tony Blair is standing down as the Quartet representative in the Middle East, the organization said on Wednesday, after eight years struggling to break ground in peacemaking between Israel and the Palestinians.

 

Officials close to the Quartet of the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia, said Blair, 62, would continue to play an informal role in trying to forge a two-state solution between the Palestinians and Israel.

 

A Quartet statement said Blair "plans to step aside" and expressed appreciation for what it called his "unwavering commitment to the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace" and efforts to improve the Palestinian economy.

 

 

 

[Valin]

And here we see the basic problem...only one side really wants peace.

 

 

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Blair had "made great efforts to advance stability in the region" helping to bridge Israeli, Palestinians gaps "in times of crisis."

 

Netanyahu hoped that Blair "will be able to continue contributing from his experience on behalf of regional peace and stability," a statement from the Israeli leader's office said.

 

Former Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman praised Blair as a "true friend of Israel." He said had made "great efforts" to resolve its conflicts with Arab neighbors, and improve Israeli, British ties while he served as British prime minister from 1997 until he stepped down in 2007.

 

A senior Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, was dismissive of Blair, telling Reuters that his departure had been anticipated. She said he had had a minimal impact on Quartet diplomacy and shown "bias toward the Israeli side."