Blair claims he will lead new Mideast peace drive, criticizes Israel

[JackNewtown]

First four paragraphs

--Tony Blair battled to quell the Labour revolt over his Lebanon policy yesterday by saying he had not given a green light to Israel's military operations, and insisting he was only interested in securing a long-term settlement that must also encompass a Palestinian state.

He also suggested he would personally lead a drive to re-energise the Palestinian peace process in September, claiming he would regard it as a personal failure of his leadership if he could not help negotiate a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

Mr Blair's hour-long exposition of his policy at a Downing Street press conference came after a cabinet and backbench revolt in the wake of the conflict in Lebanon and his own five-day absence in California. His remarks did not satisfy his most vocal critics, but cabinet members denied any coordinated revolt was being organised."It is not surprising to me that there are people who profoundly disagree with the policy," Mr Blair said. "Or that there is anxiety amongst members of the cabinet; members of the parliamentary Labour party; people in the country. This is a very difficult situation."

Mr Blair gave his strongest criticism of Israel's bombing campaign, describing it as "unacceptable", but he refused to describe it as disproportionate.--

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1837149,00.html

Blair also said the Arab and Muslim belief that the UK is not fair in the I/P conflict is a bigger issue than the UK's stance on the current crisis and for the first time said the UK may have to begin talking to Hamas.

[upi402]

1. Blair can speak and think simultaneously

Much more dangerous than the Bushler.

anyway-

All hands on deck for peace I say!

[mmonk]

2. A break in the coalition?

This will have the neocons steamed (but still probably unfazed overall). Could start to spell the end of American effectiveness and their hegemonic dream.

[JackNewtown]

3. I don't think so

He is under intense pressure from the British people as well as his own party for playing Bush's poodle yet again. I think this was just for short-term domestic consumption. He once supposedly pushed Bush hard to work for peace in the region, as sort of payback for his support of Bush in Iraq. All that resulted in was some talk and a photo op. I don't expect the UK to play a real role in pursuing peace. In order for the UK to play a real role as a broker it has to be prepared to use its leverage against the parties, as well as provide incentives to the parties, of course. Without a willingness to penalize the two sides, particularly Israel, which as a state is more suspectible to economic penalties, the UK will be viewed as irrelevant.

[bananarepublican]

4. bLiar! bLiar! Pants on fire!!!

Can you tell my thinking on Blair has done a complete 180 over the last five years?

His "Bush-nosing" has got me thinking that he may have been coerced by Du(m)bya and his pals.

[Greeby]

5. Tony, you're no Jimmy Carter

:eyes: