By Nidal al-Mugchrabi, Andrew Macaskill and Kate Holton
Cairo/London (Reuters) -when Tony Blair had the task of forging a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians in 2007, the White House warned that the former British prime minister was not “Superman” and “does not have a layer.”
After not getting much to stand out in that role, Blair is preparing once again to address one of the most insolid conflicts in the world after accepting to serve in a committee led by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to lead Gaza.
The inclusion of Blair caused disbelief among Palestinian politicians and analysts, and among many attendees at the annual conference of his own Labor Party in Britain, his reputation forever masturbated for his decision to support Iraq’s invasion in 2003 by George W. Bush.
But the possible appointment, if the plan continues, was welcome by some former diplomats and colleagues who argued that the United States, Israelis and many Gulf states, and that it was difficult to find someone who could unite all sides.
Some that support him for the role pointed out that, as British prime minister, he also played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland, after 30 years of sectarian violence there.
Hamas does not want any paper to Blair
The Hamas official, Taher Al-Nono, rejected any paper for Blair, saying that the group would not accept the imposition of “foreign guardianship on our people.”
“Our people are more able to handle their own matters,” he said.
Blair was included in the peace proposal of 20 Trump points for Gaza, which would end the war between the militants of Israel and Hamas and see a “Peace Board” of international supervisors assume a role, led by Trump and including Blair in an indefinite role.
Trump said Blair had asked to join the Board and described him as a “very good man.”
Blair’s office refused to comment more on any role, but issued a statement by saying that the proposal was a “bold and intelligent plan” that offers the best opportunity to end the war.
The 72 -year -old spent 10 years as a prime minister in Britain, and hours after he resigned in 2007, he was appointed sent from the Middle East that represents the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union, responsible for building Palestinian institutions and promoting economic development.
But his declared objective of ensuring a negotiated solution in two states did not make progress and the carved peace conversations collapsed in 2014. Many Palestinians still consider it suspected of a mediation role that they saw as a flattering of Israel.
Since he resigned in 2015, he launched the Tony Blair Institute, which advises governments and has the founder of Oracle Larry Ellison as a financial sponsor. Blair has also been a JPMorgan advisor since 2008, sitting on the International Bank of the United States Bank as advisor on Geopolitics.
Blair criticized Iraq, being too close to Israel
Blair’s past history could be angry at the Palestinians, who see him as partial of the United States and Israel, and, like many Arabs, see Iraq’s invasion as a war crime, said Hani Al-Masri, a commentator about Palestinian policy in Ramallah.
“Tony Blair is one of the things that is ridiculous,” he said. “His reputation among the Palestinians is black.”
A diplomat from a country in the Middle East who attended the labor conference laughed out loud when asked about Blair’s participation, saying: “Too toxic.”
But a former British ambassador who worked under Blair in the region said it was wrong to see Blair as partial towards Israel, only that he understood that the solutions would have to be acceptable to Israel’s elected leaders.
“He understands that, despite all his failures, Israel is a democracy. You have to work with Israel for better or worse, and in recent years, for worse, but he is willing to do it.”
The supporter cites Blair’s ability to unite ‘
Tom Kelly, Blair’s spokesman, when the prime minister said that anyone looking for a universally popular figure in the Middle East would be “looking for a very, long time,” but that Blair had the ability to understand all perspectives and paint an image of a better future.
Look Hassan, the director of the Middle East Labor Council, who arrived in Great Britain as Iraq refugee in 1999, told Reuters that, although it would not be popular to speak, Blair could still be a good option.
“It has the ability to close diplomatic relations to incredibly senior levels where decisions can be made,” he said. “I think that will be beneficial.”
But many legislators and followers within the center-left party that Blair once led could not see beyond Blair’s role in Iraq.
Kim Johnson, a labor member of Parliament, told Reuters that he thought his participation was “scandalous and disgusting. He is completely the wrong one for a job that tries to try to find peace.”
(Writing for Kate Holton; additional reports by Amanda Ferguson in Belfast, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and Stefania Spezzati in Londoneting by Peter Graff)
(Tagstotranslate) Tony Blair (T) President Donald Trump
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