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| Blair continues Middle East visit | Blair continues Middle East visit |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair is to meet the Israeli and Palestinian leaders as he continues his first visit to the Middle East as the Quartet group's special envoy. | Tony Blair is to meet the Israeli and Palestinian leaders as he continues his first visit to the Middle East as the Quartet group's special envoy. |
| The former UK prime minister's spokesman said Mr Blair was on "listening mode" for the two-day trip. | |
| His mandate from the Quartet of Middle East mediators is to work to strengthen Palestinian institutions, without trying to negotiate a peace deal. | His mandate from the Quartet of Middle East mediators is to work to strengthen Palestinian institutions, without trying to negotiate a peace deal. |
| The Quartet is made up of Russia, the UN, the EU and the United States. | The Quartet is made up of Russia, the UN, the EU and the United States. |
| Israel has welcomed Mr Blair's visit, but the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has accused him of bias and said it must not be ignored. | Israel has welcomed Mr Blair's visit, but the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has accused him of bias and said it must not be ignored. |
| 'Critical point' | 'Critical point' |
| After a stop in Jordan on Monday, Mr Blair, who stepped down as prime minister in June, met Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem. | After a stop in Jordan on Monday, Mr Blair, who stepped down as prime minister in June, met Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem. |
| She said this was "a critical point in time to create a turning point" in Middle East politics. | She said this was "a critical point in time to create a turning point" in Middle East politics. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Blair goes to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. | On Tuesday, Mr Blair goes to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. |
| He then returns to Israel for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. | He then returns to Israel for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. |
| Last week, Mr Blair said he hoped momentum could be regained in the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. | Last week, Mr Blair said he hoped momentum could be regained in the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. |
| But Mr Blair's mandate is limited to helping the Palestinians build up their institutions and boost their economy to prepare them for eventually running an independent state. | But Mr Blair's mandate is limited to helping the Palestinians build up their institutions and boost their economy to prepare them for eventually running an independent state. |
| This is still a huge challenge, says the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem. | This is still a huge challenge, says the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem. |
| Unemployment is high, living standards are low and corruption is widespread, says our correspondent. | Unemployment is high, living standards are low and corruption is widespread, says our correspondent. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY If Tony Blair is an honest broker he will succeed Pancha Chandra, Belgium Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY If Tony Blair is an honest broker he will succeed Pancha Chandra, Belgium Send us your comments |
| Mr Blair's mission is complicated by the division of the Palestinians into rival camps - one led by President Abbas in the West Bank; the other led by Hamas in Gaza. | Mr Blair's mission is complicated by the division of the Palestinians into rival camps - one led by President Abbas in the West Bank; the other led by Hamas in Gaza. |
| The Quartet wants Mr Blair to carry on its policy of not talking to Hamas, but a leader for the group in Gaza said this would be a mistake. | The Quartet wants Mr Blair to carry on its policy of not talking to Hamas, but a leader for the group in Gaza said this would be a mistake. |
| "He must be fair," said Ismail Haniya. | "He must be fair," said Ismail Haniya. |
| "He should correct the mistakes he made as Britain's prime minister. We are ready for dialogue with Blair, and even the Quartet. All we want is justice for the Palestinian people." | "He should correct the mistakes he made as Britain's prime minister. We are ready for dialogue with Blair, and even the Quartet. All we want is justice for the Palestinian people." |
| Hamas was elected to government by the Palestinian people last year and later formed a government of national unity with Mr Abbas's Fatah faction. Mr Haniya was prime minister. | Hamas was elected to government by the Palestinian people last year and later formed a government of national unity with Mr Abbas's Fatah faction. Mr Haniya was prime minister. |
| Mr Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in deadly fighting in June. Mr Abbas formed his own emergency government based in the West Bank. | Mr Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in deadly fighting in June. Mr Abbas formed his own emergency government based in the West Bank. |
| Israel has since moved to bolster Mr Abbas by freeing some 250 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, releasing frozen Palestinian funds and establishing regular meetings between Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas. | Israel has since moved to bolster Mr Abbas by freeing some 250 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, releasing frozen Palestinian funds and establishing regular meetings between Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas. |
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