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Mideast Envoy Tony Blair (photo: flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff July 24, 2007 |
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Former British prime minister and new Mideast envoy Tony Blair received a mixed welcome upon his arrival for meetings with officials in Jerusalem and Ramallah. Many Palestinians whom the Jerusalem Post talked to expressed doubts at Blair's potential success.
Samer Abu Sabaha, a 22-year-old student in Ramallah, said Blair was committing a "big mistake" by refusing to talk to Hamas during his visit. "We want to see Blair talk to our democratically-elected government," he said. "There's no way that you can resolve this problem if you ignore the democratic choice of the Palestinians. By refusing to talk to Hamas, Blair is actually turning his back to half of the Palestinians who voted for Hamas."
Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the US, EU and Israel, refuses to renounce terrorism or recognize Israel. The group is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks inside Israel.
"Blair is not going to help the Palestinians. He's here to help Israel. The British are responsible for our tragedy because they helped create the Jewish state," Muhammad Siam, a 48-year-old construction worker said, referring to the Balfour Declaration.
In talks schedule for Tuesday evening, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is expected to request more money and weapons from Blair, according to PA officials, to strengthen Fatah's foothold in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank.)
"They [PA security forces] need more equipment and training. This is the only way to prevent Hamas from taking control over the West Bank. In the past few weeks we have arrested more than 300 Hamas supporters and members in the West Bank, including some who were planning to establish a security force for Hamas," one PA official said.
Blair told reporters on Tuesday he thinks "there is a sense of possibility, but whether that sense of possibility can be translated into something, that is something that needs to be worked at and thought about over time."
Blair has already met with several Israeli officials, among them President Shimon Peres, Opposition Leader B.B. Netanyahu, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Peres offered strong encouragement for Blair, adding some optimism to the Mideast envoy's reception. "Your success is our success. Your dreams are our dreams," Peres said. "I feel this is a serious window of opportunity for peace, but the duration is not too long. We will have to help you."
Livni urged Blair to refuse talks with Hamas, calling on him to "distinguish between the moderates and the extremists, take a firm stand on Hamas and not give the organization any legitimacy -- direct or indirect -- as long as they do not fully comply with the three conditions of recognizing Israel, halt the violence, and recognize previous agreements."
Blair's spokesman issued a statement saying that the former prime minister would take all he heard into account. "This is a preliminary visit to hear the views of key Israelis and Palestinians about the issues that have to be addressed in order to fulfill the demanding mandate Mr. Blair has taken on," the spokesman said.
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