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Blair continues Middle East visit Envoy Blair holds West Bank talks
(about 3 hours 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 in the West Bank to meet Palestinian leaders as part of his first visit to the Middle East as the Quartet group's special envoy.
The spokesman for the former prime minister said Mr Blair was in "listening mode" for the two-day trip. The former UK prime minister said the two-day visit was a chance to listen and learn, and spoke of a "sense of possibility" in the region.
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.
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 the former UK prime minister's visit, but the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has accused him of bias and said it must not be ignored. I think there is a sense of possibility, but whether that sense of possibility can be translated into something is something that needs to be worked out and thought about over time Tony Blair
'Critical point' Mr Blair is holding talks in the West Bank city of Ramallah with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the new Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad.
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. He is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later in the day.
She said this was "a critical point in time to create a turning point" in Middle East politics. Limited mandate
On Tuesday, Mr Blair goes to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. 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 and, early on Tuesday, he met Israeli President Shimon Peres.
He then returns to Israel for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "This initial visit is a chance to listen, to learn and reflect. There will be a time when the many questions that are very obvious should be answered, but I feel that this is not the moment at this point," Mr Blair said on Tuesday morning.
Last week, Mr Blair said he hoped momentum could be regained in the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. HAVE YOUR SAY If Tony Blair is an honest broker, he will succeed Pancha Chandra, Belgium class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6951&edition=1">Send us your comments
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. The new envoy'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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6951&edition=1">Send us your comments Palestinian rivalries
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. Israel and the Mr Abbas are also adamant that he should not talk to the militant group - which refuses to recognise Israel or renounce violence.
"He must be fair," said Ismail Haniya. But a leader for the group in Gaza said this would be a mistake.
"He must be fair," said Ismail Haniya, the former Palestinian prime minister.
"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, led by Mr Haniya.
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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