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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Mid-East group debates Blair role | Mid-East group debates Blair role |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Quartet of Middle East mediators from the EU, Russia, the UN and US has been meeting to discuss the appointment of a new special envoy for the region. | |
| It is widely expected that Tony Blair will be offered the job after he steps down as UK prime minister on Wednesday. | |
| It was the Quartet's first meeting since Hamas seized control of security from pro-Fatah rivals in Gaza. | |
| The US has signalled its desire for a role for Mr Blair, but many Arabs see him as too pro-American and Israeli. | The US has signalled its desire for a role for Mr Blair, but many Arabs see him as too pro-American and Israeli. |
| A lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential and I will do whatever I can to help such a resolution come about UK Prime Minister Tony Blair | A lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential and I will do whatever I can to help such a resolution come about UK Prime Minister Tony Blair |
| President George W Bush and his secretary of state have discussed the issue with the outgoing prime minister and Mr Blair has said he is willing, US officials say. | President George W Bush and his secretary of state have discussed the issue with the outgoing prime minister and Mr Blair has said he is willing, US officials say. |
| Speaking to reporters following a meeting with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at Downing Street on Tuesday, Mr Blair underlined his interest in the job. | Speaking to reporters following a meeting with California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at Downing Street on Tuesday, Mr Blair underlined his interest in the job. |
| "I think that anybody who cares about greater peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential," he said. | "I think that anybody who cares about greater peace and stability in the world knows that a lasting and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue is essential," he said. |
| "And I will do whatever I can to help such a resolution come about." | "And I will do whatever I can to help such a resolution come about." |
| The meeting of the Quartet was taking place at the US consulate in Jerusalem and was closed to the media. | |
| The Middle East situation has become more critical in the last two weeks, as a Palestinian unity deal collapsed between the Islamist Hamas and secular Fatah. | The Middle East situation has become more critical in the last two weeks, as a Palestinian unity deal collapsed between the Islamist Hamas and secular Fatah. |
| Fighting erupted on the streets of Gaza, with Hamas gunmen routing the pro-Fatah security forces. | Fighting erupted on the streets of Gaza, with Hamas gunmen routing the pro-Fatah security forces. |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, responded by dissolving the Hamas-led cabinet, bringing about the division of Gaza and the West Bank as separate fiefdoms. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, responded by dissolving the Hamas-led cabinet, bringing about the division of Gaza and the West Bank as separate fiefdoms. |
| Criticism | Criticism |
| Mr Blair is a controversial figure in the Middle East, primarily because of the war in Iraq. | Mr Blair is a controversial figure in the Middle East, primarily because of the war in Iraq. |
| He was also much criticised in the region for refusing to condemn Israel's bombardment of Lebanon in 2006 and to call for an early ceasefire. | He was also much criticised in the region for refusing to condemn Israel's bombardment of Lebanon in 2006 and to call for an early ceasefire. |
| Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip earlier in JuneBBC Jerusalem correspondent Tim Franks says Israeli officials enthuse about Mr Blair's status and experience. Palestinians are far more sceptical. | Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip earlier in JuneBBC Jerusalem correspondent Tim Franks says Israeli officials enthuse about Mr Blair's status and experience. Palestinians are far more sceptical. |
| The Russians are said to be cool about his possible appointment, but are not expected to block it. | The Russians are said to be cool about his possible appointment, but are not expected to block it. |
| The Quartet met for three hours at the US consulate and representatives left without speaking to the media. | |
| A spokesman for the Islamist Hamas group said "the experience of our people with Blair was bad" and his appointment "may even make things worse". | A spokesman for the Islamist Hamas group said "the experience of our people with Blair was bad" and his appointment "may even make things worse". |
| Reports in the British media said Mr Blair would not act as a mediator to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, but might be responsible for working with the Palestinians on security, economy and governance. | Reports in the British media said Mr Blair would not act as a mediator to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, but might be responsible for working with the Palestinians on security, economy and governance. |
| Boost | Boost |
| The Quartet meeting follows a summit between the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians in Sharm al-Sheikh aimed at boosting Mr Abbas and Fatah movement after he named an emergency cabinet of his supporters. | The Quartet meeting follows a summit between the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians in Sharm al-Sheikh aimed at boosting Mr Abbas and Fatah movement after he named an emergency cabinet of his supporters. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Tony Blair would prove a severe hindrance in the peace process Jane, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Tony Blair would prove a severe hindrance in the peace process Jane, London Send us your comments |
| The efforts to strengthen Mr Abbas's position were continuing on Tuesday with talks between President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. | The efforts to strengthen Mr Abbas's position were continuing on Tuesday with talks between President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. |
| Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, but was boycotted by Israel and isolated internationally because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence. | Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, but was boycotted by Israel and isolated internationally because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence. |
| On Monday, the ousted Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, said his group was ready to talk to Fatah again after this month's upheaval. | On Monday, the ousted Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya of Hamas, said his group was ready to talk to Fatah again after this month's upheaval. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in Sharm al-Sheikh that he was proposing the release of 250 Fatah detainees. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in Sharm al-Sheikh that he was proposing the release of 250 Fatah detainees. |
| Israel also announced it would pay the emergency government hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenues it has withheld since Hamas took power. For his part, Mr Abbas urged Israel to "start serious political negotiations, according to an agreed time frame, with the aim of setting up an independent Palestinian state". | Israel also announced it would pay the emergency government hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenues it has withheld since Hamas took power. For his part, Mr Abbas urged Israel to "start serious political negotiations, according to an agreed time frame, with the aim of setting up an independent Palestinian state". |