By Stan Goodenough
Jun 21, 2007
Intense worldwide media speculation Thursday had it that US President George W. Bush has asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair to take the post of special envoy to the Middle East – specifically focusing on the Israel-“Palestinian” conflict – after he steps down next Wednesday.
According to reports, the American leadership has apparently been holding talks with British officials and with the other so-called Quartet members – the United Nations, the European Union and Russia – about having Blair represent them.
Commentators said they believed that, if he accepted the offer, Blair’s responsibilities would be more centered on building up “Palestinian” institutions, while US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would continue overseeing negotiations between Israel and the PA.
At the same time, there is little doubt that the Briton, who has a formidable record as a negotiator and facilitator of talks in his own right, would also have Rice’s ear.
Journalists were quick to begin trying to mold Blair into the kind of envoy they would want to see.
Former BBC reporter Nicholas Jones told CNN the man – who has been prime minister for 10 straight years, leading his Labor Party to three consecutive victories over the Conservative Party – has considerable clout on the international stage
He had been scorned as President Bush’s “poodle,” Jones’ interviewer stressed. Surely he would not be “George Bush’s Middle East envoy?”
Jones – who like most journalists dislikes much of what the American leader stands for – was quick to agree.
Blair had “unfinished business” to deal with, he said. The prime minister had made it clear to Bush two years ago that he would like to personally get involved with helping bring an end to Israeli-“Palestinian” hostilities, but had not been “allowed” to do so.
Now he would have a free hand and, provided Russia agreed to his appointment on behalf of the Quartet, he would also have enough authority so that even the Arab world, would have to work with him.
That world was not particularly fond of Blair because of Britain’s participation in the war in Iraq, and also because he would not “stomp on Israel” when the Jewish state went to war against Lebanon’s Hizb’allah last summer.
Jones went on to explain that Blair “wants to build bridges between Christianity and Judaism and Islam”
The retiring prime minister would be “a pretty formidable player,” provided he was able to “distance himself from the US.”
Although no official announcements have yet been made – either by the White House or 10 Downing Street – Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reportedly likes the idea.
"Prime Minister Olmert is very supportive of Prime Minister Blair and of his continuing involvement in the Middle East and the Peace Process," a spokesman for Olmert said, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Other leftist Israeli leaders agreed. They all know that Blair shares the Bush vision of a “two state solution” that will divide the Land of Israel in two.