This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6188571.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| PM Blair to meet Mid-East leaders | PM Blair to meet Mid-East leaders |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| UK PM Tony Blair is in Israel on the fourth day of a Middle East tour aimed at reviving a stalled peace process. | UK PM Tony Blair is in Israel on the fourth day of a Middle East tour aimed at reviving a stalled peace process. |
| He is expected to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid rising tension in the Gaza Strip. | He is expected to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid rising tension in the Gaza Strip. |
| Gaza City saw fighting on Sunday, with two people killed after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called for a poll. Mr Blair came to Israel from Iraq, where he told British troops it was vital to "stand up and fight" for people of tolerance and moderation. | |
| Since setting off on his Middle East tour on Friday, he has also visited Turkey and Egypt. | Since setting off on his Middle East tour on Friday, he has also visited Turkey and Egypt. |
| While in Egypt, he said the Middle East region faced a "critical moment of decision" and resolving the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians was crucial to stability. | While in Egypt, he said the Middle East region faced a "critical moment of decision" and resolving the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians was crucial to stability. |
| Truce deal | Truce deal |
| Mr Blair is expected to meet Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday. | |
| Lord Levy, his special envoy to the Middle East, has joined the prime minister on this latest leg of the tour and is thought to have held preparatory talks with Israeli officials. | Lord Levy, his special envoy to the Middle East, has joined the prime minister on this latest leg of the tour and is thought to have held preparatory talks with Israeli officials. |
| Armed men have been out in force in Gaza over the weekend | Armed men have been out in force in Gaza over the weekend |
| Mr Blair's arrival in Tel Aviv late on Sunday came as reports emerged of a deal between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to end days of violence in the Gaza Strip. | Mr Blair's arrival in Tel Aviv late on Sunday came as reports emerged of a deal between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to end days of violence in the Gaza Strip. |
| Officials of Hamas, which runs the Palestinian government, said they had agreed a truce with Fatah, loyal to Mr Abbas. | Officials of Hamas, which runs the Palestinian government, said they had agreed a truce with Fatah, loyal to Mr Abbas. |
| Yet gunfire continued into the night following a day in which Gaza City saw running street battles, with mortars fired at Mr Abbas's office in Gaza City. | Yet gunfire continued into the night following a day in which Gaza City saw running street battles, with mortars fired at Mr Abbas's office in Gaza City. |
| Mr Abbas' call for early elections to resolve tensions between the rival factions has been labelled a "coup" by Hamas, sparking renewed fighting between the groups. | Mr Abbas' call for early elections to resolve tensions between the rival factions has been labelled a "coup" by Hamas, sparking renewed fighting between the groups. |
| If we don't stand up and fight for the people of tolerance and moderation ... then the people of hatred and sectarianism will triumph Tony Blair Blair visits Basra troops | If we don't stand up and fight for the people of tolerance and moderation ... then the people of hatred and sectarianism will triumph Tony Blair Blair visits Basra troops |
| Hamas won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January, but has faced an international aid boycott since because of its refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. | Hamas won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January, but has faced an international aid boycott since because of its refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. |
| The current administration was elected until 2010, but the US and UK both backed Mr Abbas's call for new elections. | The current administration was elected until 2010, but the US and UK both backed Mr Abbas's call for new elections. |
| On Sunday, Mr Blair held a press conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri Maliki, in which he said the UK would stand "four-square" behind the Iraqi government in its battle to defeat terrorists. | On Sunday, Mr Blair held a press conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri Maliki, in which he said the UK would stand "four-square" behind the Iraqi government in its battle to defeat terrorists. |
| Later he travelled to the southern city of Basra, where he met some of Britain's 7,000-strong military contingent in the country. | Later he travelled to the southern city of Basra, where he met some of Britain's 7,000-strong military contingent in the country. |
| He has paid a visit to the troops every Christmas since the 2003 war began. | He has paid a visit to the troops every Christmas since the 2003 war began. |