Blair 'not welcome' in West Bank

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A group of Palestinian politicians and intellectuals says UK PM Tony Blair will not be welcome in the West Bank during an expected trip to the region.

A strongly worded advertisement attacks Mr Blair for not backing an immediate truce during the conflict in Lebanon.

"He is coming here to wash his hands, stained with Lebanese blood, in Palestinian water," the advert says.

The document was not signed by officials in either of the two largest Palestinian parties, Hamas and Fatah.

Correspondents say the UK's stance during Israel's bombardment of Lebanon - refusing to criticise Israel's military tactics or to back calls for an immediate ceasefire - caused anger across the Arab world.

During the war, Mr Blair insisted an end to hostilities had to be based on a plan for durable peace between Israel and Lebanon and not a short-term fix.

More than 1,000 Lebanese, most of them civilians, were killed in Israeli military action. On the Israeli side, 116 soldiers and 43 civilians were killed by Hezbollah militants.

'Warmonger'

The advertisement, published in the newspaper al-Ayyam, calls on the Palestinian leadership to cancel the visit by Mr Blair, whom it calls "a man of violence and a warmonger" trying to "appear as a peacemaker".

It adds: "His policy on the Palestinian issue is constantly biased towards Israel and has contributed shamelessly to the besieging and starving of the Palestinians."

The document is signed by members of political parties, university professors, NGO activists and "hundreds of ordinary people", according to the advert.

Signatories include the runner-up in last year's presidential elections, the moderate Mustapha Barghouti, and the leftist fellow candidate Bassam al-Salihi.

Mr Blair is currently facing a political crisis at home over his leadership of the governing Labour Party.

The British consulate in Jerusalem said the visit would deal with "fundamental issues" regarding both Lebanon and the Palestinians.

"There is anger and mistrust on all sides," a spokesman acknowledged.