Tony Blair quits Middle East envoy role

[webfact]

APNewsBreak:

Quartet Mideast envoy Tony Blair resigns
JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday stepped down as the international community's Mideast envoy, leaving a post that began with great promise but which struggled to deliver dramatic changes in its quest to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The departure reflected the dire state of Mideast peace efforts, which have been stalled for years and show no signs of resuming following the formation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government. A top Palestinian official said he was "happy" Blair was leaving, accusing him of ineffectiveness and caving in to Israeli pressure.

Officials familiar with the work of the Quartet in the region said Blair had written a letter to United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon to confirm his resignation. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement, which came later Wednesday once the letter was received and thanked Blair for his service.

The Quartet — which includes the U.S., the European Union, Russia and the United Nations — appointed Blair to the post in 2007 with the goal of helping develop the Palestinian economy and institutions. The mission was meant to prepare the groundwork for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as part of a peace agreement, and the addition of the high-profile Blair gave the office star power and raised hopes for progress.

But Blair quickly found himself fighting small battles with Israel over the movement of Palestinian goods and people in the West Bank, and dealing with the difficulties of a Gaza Strip ruled by the Hamas militant group and blockaded by Israel and Egypt. Hamas, which is shunned as a terrorist group by the U.S. and EU, seized control of Gaza from the rival government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shortly before Blair took office.

When Blair first took office, then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas were conducting a round of peace talks that both sides have said made significant progress. But those talks ultimately failed, and since Netanyahu's election in 2009, repeated attempts at reviving talks have flopped. Netanyahu's new government is dominated by parliamentary hard-liners who oppose Palestinian independence, leaving the goal of a two-state solution as elusive as ever.

One official said Blair had suffered "frustration" with the limited authority of his mandate, which did not include a political role. The official also said that Blair felt his office has a strong leadership team and that now is the right time to move on.

A statement by the Quartet did not reveal why he was stepping down, but praised Blair's "unwavering commitment" to peace and said Blair made "lasting contributions" to improve the lives of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said Blair had worked "tirelessly and passionately." He said he was not aware of plans to replace Blair.

According to his office's website, Blair's office succeeded in helping remove dozens of Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank, easing the movement of workers and Palestinian products to markets. He also helped boost tourism in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, helped secure thousands of permits for Palestinian laborers to work in Israel, helped engineer a $350 million mobile phone investment in the West Bank, creating thousands of jobs and also pressed Israel to allow limited exports out of blockaded Gaza.

Blair's part-time position was unpaid. As he coupled the job with a lucrative private-sector career, the Palestinians often complained that he was ineffective and caved in to Israeli demands too easily.

"I'm happy that Tony Blair is leaving. For the entire eight years, Tony Blair didn't make any contribution to Palestine," said Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official. "He never proposed anything that the Israelis didn't agree to, and the entire time he only represented himself. And he worked only to satisfy the Israelis and the Americans."

In a statement, Netanyahu praised Blair for his "great efforts to advance stability and peace in the region."

"Many times his understanding helped him to bridge gaps between the positions of the sides in the region including in times of crisis," he said. "Israel appreciates and esteems his work and his determination."
___

Associated Press writers Cara Anna at the United Nations and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-28

[ezzra]

No wonder there, even the almighty can not bring peace to this region... the Israelis are worried

sick of once the PA was given it's own state, Al Qaida and other terrorist groups will take over

and position them selves few miles fro Tel Aviv among other apprehensions and worries,

The PA, whom right now doesn't have a mandate to decide for the Palestinians people, are

quite happy to stay the way they are, the under dog and the darling of the sympathetic world

while receiving billions in aids year after year for the last 40 years or so...

So no. no one can bring peace to this tumultuous and troublesome piece of land, unless the two sides really

two sides really want to, and as it is now, none of the side really want to and that's how it will stay for some

time to come...

[JockPieandBeans]

I'm amazed that an ex-Politician, who has been an abject failure has actually quit

Perhaps he is now riding to the rescue of the Labour Party

[sanuk711]

Tony Blair gave a speech this afternoon, outlining why he is leaving the middle east peace envoy.

He ended it the way Blair always ends his speeches, by saying, "Thank you all for listening. That'll be £200,000."................

[Credo]

In nearly all the news that is written about the area, his name seldom appeared. I had forgotten about this position.

I am not trying to cast dispersion on the man, but it appears that it was a daunting task with insurmountable problems.

[boomerangutang]

The list of achievements (implemented in that region), while he was at the helm, look pretty good.

It's a thankless job. The Palestinians aren't going to like anyone unless that person stands on a rooftop and yells 'Death to Israel.'

There's a report out today by Amnesty International which exposes many abject shootings of Palestinians by Palestinians. The killers were taking advantage of the chaos of the most recent battles (with the IDF) to settle scores, or whatever excuses they can easily come up with to kill fellow Palestinians (they don't like him or, he looked longingly at my wife or, he cheated me on a drug deal, or he was seen talking to an Israeli, or.....?).

[konying]

The list of achievements (implemented in that region), while he was at the helm, look pretty good.

It's a thankless job. The Palestinians aren't going to like anyone unless that person stands on a rooftop and yells 'Death to Israel.'

There's a report out today by Amnesty International which exposes many abject shootings of Palestinians by Palestinians. The killers were taking advantage of the chaos of the most recent battles (with the IDF) to settle scores, or whatever excuses they can easily come up with to kill fellow Palestinians (they don't like him or, he looked longingly at my wife or, he cheated me on a drug deal, or he was seen talking to an Israeli, or.....?).

You have put it mildly, the amnesty report accuses Hamas of crimes against humanity. Tortue, brutal killings and executions

[boomerangutang]

where's the story on FIFA corruption? I can't post in this category, so......

[Yunla]

I agree with other posters, it is an intractable problem, and it snowballs with every death on both sides bringing more pain and more future hostility. There are many forces at work, and some agendas that are just never going to change no matter how many diplomatic conferences are held.

So in that respect I have sympathy for his role, it was like trying to persuade an avalanche to stop for a moment and try to see it all from the perspective of skiers.

But he is not the best man for this kind of work, his involvement in the disastrous Iraq war, and his leadership at home, which saw working-class people walk away from the Labour party in droves, a party in which they had deep roots dating back generations. Many stopped voting entirely because of Blair, and many got sucked into things like the Bnp etc. I count him as one of the worst leaders in history, and obviously with a situation like the ME, what is needed is a masterful leader and a miracle-worker to boot.

[Somtamnication]

The list of achievements (implemented in that region), while he was at the helm, look pretty good.

It's a thankless job. The Palestinians aren't going to like anyone unless that person stands on a rooftop and yells 'Death to Israel.'

There's a report out today by Amnesty International which exposes many abject shootings of Palestinians by Palestinians. The killers were taking advantage of the chaos of the most recent battles (with the IDF) to settle scores, or whatever excuses they can easily come up with to kill fellow Palestinians (they don't like him or, he looked longingly at my wife or, he cheated me on a drug deal, or he was seen talking to an Israeli, or.....?).

You have put it mildly, the amnesty report accuses Hamas of crimes against humanity. Tortue, brutal killings and executions

See? The Palestinians and the Israelis DO have something in common!!

[konying]

The list of achievements (implemented in that region), while he was at the helm, look pretty good.

It's a thankless job. The Palestinians aren't going to like anyone unless that person stands on a rooftop and yells 'Death to Israel.'

There's a report out today by Amnesty International which exposes many abject shootings of Palestinians by Palestinians. The killers were taking advantage of the chaos of the most recent battles (with the IDF) to settle scores, or whatever excuses they can easily come up with to kill fellow Palestinians (they don't like him or, he looked longingly at my wife or, he cheated me on a drug deal, or he was seen talking to an Israeli, or.....?).

You have put it mildly, the amnesty report accuses Hamas of crimes against humanity. Tortue, brutal killings and executions

See? The Palestinians and the Israelis DO have something in common!!

Hamas?

[maidee]

this is a joke right ?

the good friend of the bushes, that help start a war on iraq, that had nothing to do with 9/11

now is/was there for peace in the middle east ?

who are they kidding

anyway, tony is a member of the bilderberg group, you know, the real leaders of the world, where they deceide who they will make war with next, who needs some de-population for the good of their wealth

[Brian Robson]

He's done eff all for a of money, though the Middle East was supposedly pro bono!

Since Tony Blair resigned as prime minister he has devoted a great deal of his time to making money. His accounts are obscure, but it has been estimated he earns some £20 million a year. It’s clear the former British prime minister is a very rich man.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/9806139/Tony-Blairs-record-in-the-Middle-East-is-a-sorry-one-its-time-he-quit.html

[Alwyn]

I would say that due to the timing, he threw the towel in - just had enough. Yesterday Hamas again refused to sit at the table with Israel, they rejected talks, again. Hours later 4 rockets were fired from Gaza into Ashdod. No envoy from any country will ever work as Hamas want to obliterate Israel so that it doesn't exist - it's written into their charter. Fact.

[pitrevie]

Tony Blair gave a speech this afternoon, outlining why he is leaving the middle east peace envoy.

He ended it the way Blair always ends his speeches, by saying, "Thank you all for listening. That'll be £200,000."................

I guess he must be the first ex premier of the UK to be paid for speaking engagements.

[pitrevie]

He's done eff all for a of money, though the Middle East was supposedly pro bono!

Since Tony Blair resigned as prime minister he has devoted a great deal of his time to making money. His accounts are obscure, but it has been estimated he earns some £20 million a year. It’s clear the former British prime minister is a very rich man.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/9806139/Tony-Blairs-record-in-the-Middle-East-is-a-sorry-one-its-time-he-quit.html

Does the Torygraph list all the ex premiers who have done exactly the same or did the likes of Thatcher do it for free?

[sanuk711]

Braking News---------------!!!!!

Tony Blair resigns from Middle East 'Peace Envoy' post to accept position as Head of FIFA....................

[BKKBobby]

Good. He shouldnt have been a Middle East envoy. He was a weak follower of the guy who opened the Iraqi can of worms.

[petermik]

Tony Blair? his list of worthwhile achievements wouldn.t fill the back of a postage stamp

[Thorgal]

Quote from OP :

"I'm happy that Tony Blair is leaving. For the entire eight years, Tony Blair didn't make any contribution to Palestine," said Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official. "He never proposed anything that the Israelis didn't agree to, and the entire time he only represented himself. And he worked only to satisfy the Israelis and the Americans."

Says enough...

[JockPieandBeans]

Quote from OP :

"I'm happy that Tony Blair is leaving. For the entire eight years, Tony Blair didn't make any contribution to Palestine," said Nabil Shaath, a senior Palestinian official. "He never proposed anything that the Israelis didn't agree to, and the entire time he only represented himself. And he worked only to satisfy the Israelis and the Americans."

Says enough...

Strangely enough.

Why does this post not surprise me

[Scott]

A post and a reply have been removed. Please don't use aberrant spelling of politician's names.

[thaibeachlovers]

I agree with other posters, it is an intractable problem, and it snowballs with every death on both sides bringing more pain and more future hostility. There are many forces at work, and some agendas that are just never going to change no matter how many diplomatic conferences are held.

So in that respect I have sympathy for his role, it was like trying to persuade an avalanche to stop for a moment and try to see it all from the perspective of skiers.

But he is not the best man for this kind of work, his involvement in the disastrous Iraq war, and his leadership at home, which saw working-class people walk away from the Labour party in droves, a party in which they had deep roots dating back generations. Many stopped voting entirely because of Blair, and many got sucked into things like the Bnp etc. I count him as one of the worst leaders in history, and obviously with a situation like the ME, what is needed is a masterful leader and a miracle-worker to boot.

I was in Britain for the entire Blair government. It was so sad that a man elected with such high hopes for 2 elections with huge majorities threw it all away to be Bush's poodle. The good he could have done for Britain is unimaginable. A failure as PM and a failure at his UN job.

[Andaman Al]

PLEASE PUT THIS MAN IN JAIL for what he has criminally done! Blair is a Liar and a War Criminal!

Read until the end where all the released documents are!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3278117/The-net-closing-Blair-Critics-ex-PM-seize-smoking-gun-U-S-memos-reveal-signed-Iraq-conflict-Bush-YEAR-invasion-started.html

Edited October 18, 2015 by Andaman Al