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Blair meeting Palestinian leader Blair meeting Palestinian leader
(20 minutes later)
Tony Blair is meeting the president of the Palestinian Authority on the second day of his visit to the Middle East.Tony Blair is meeting the president of the Palestinian Authority on the second day of his visit to the Middle East.
The prime minister's discussion with Mahmoud Abbas comes a day after he met the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.The prime minister's discussion with Mahmoud Abbas comes a day after he met the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Mr Olmert said he was ready to meet the Palestinian leader to advance peace efforts. It follows Mr Abbas's calls for fresh negotiations with Israel.Mr Olmert said he was ready to meet the Palestinian leader to advance peace efforts. It follows Mr Abbas's calls for fresh negotiations with Israel.
Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government.Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president.A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president.
'Dialogue''Dialogue'
"He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue.""He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue."
Britain, like the rest of the EU, is boycotting the Hamas administration.Britain, like the rest of the EU, is boycotting the Hamas administration.
The prime minister's visit to the Middle East comes amid the continuing row over when he leaves office.The prime minister's visit to the Middle East comes amid the continuing row over when he leaves office.
There is a crisis. The economy is level zero Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad UN warns of Gaza 'breaking point' There is a crisis. The economy is level zero Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad UN warns of Gaza 'breaking point'
Mr Blair said the stability of the Middle East was essential to the rest of the world, including the UK.Mr Blair said the stability of the Middle East was essential to the rest of the world, including the UK.
"It's very easy to be pessimistic ... but I do believe that with goodwill and the right leadership it can be done," he said on Saturday. "It's very important that we see what we can do to re-energize this process.""It's very easy to be pessimistic ... but I do believe that with goodwill and the right leadership it can be done," he said on Saturday. "It's very important that we see what we can do to re-energize this process."
"We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said."We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said.
Speaking of the recent Lebanon conflict, Mr Blair said he wanted to work to make sure the UN resolution which ended the conflict was fully implemented.Speaking of the recent Lebanon conflict, Mr Blair said he wanted to work to make sure the UN resolution which ended the conflict was fully implemented.
"We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said."We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said.
Mr Olmert said he was ready to begin talks with Mr Abbas to advance peace efforts.Mr Olmert said he was ready to begin talks with Mr Abbas to advance peace efforts.
The EU has insisted Hamas recognises Israel's right to exist before there can be any dialogue with the administration.The EU has insisted Hamas recognises Israel's right to exist before there can be any dialogue with the administration.
There have been protests in the West Bank town of Hebron Mr Blair met Mr Olmert on Saturday
But Hamas argues the real problem has been Mr Blair's attachment to the US, which it says views the Middle East from Israel's perspective.But Hamas argues the real problem has been Mr Blair's attachment to the US, which it says views the Middle East from Israel's perspective.
Civil servants, including teachers, have gone on strike because of wage freezes prompted by the EU boycott.Civil servants, including teachers, have gone on strike because of wage freezes prompted by the EU boycott.
"There is a crisis. The economy is level zero. The security situation is very hard," Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the news agency AFP."There is a crisis. The economy is level zero. The security situation is very hard," Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the news agency AFP.
'Widespread contempt''Widespread contempt'
Israeli vice premier Shimon Peres told Israeli radio a plan for troops to pull out of parts of the occupied West Bank had "disappeared" in the wake of recent Hezbollah attacks, the Associated Press news agency said.Israeli vice premier Shimon Peres told Israeli radio a plan for troops to pull out of parts of the occupied West Bank had "disappeared" in the wake of recent Hezbollah attacks, the Associated Press news agency said.
"We evacuated Gaza and Lebanon and they continued to fire from there like fools," Mr Peres was quoted as saying."We evacuated Gaza and Lebanon and they continued to fire from there like fools," Mr Peres was quoted as saying.
The BBC's Alan Johnston, in the West Bank, said Mr Abbas's camp would "welcome Mr Blair's efforts to re-energise the peace process".The BBC's Alan Johnston, in the West Bank, said Mr Abbas's camp would "welcome Mr Blair's efforts to re-energise the peace process".
But he added: "There is a widespread contempt for Mr Blair among Palestinians.But he added: "There is a widespread contempt for Mr Blair among Palestinians.
"They regard him as having done virtually nothing to support their efforts to end the Israeli occupation here.""They regard him as having done virtually nothing to support their efforts to end the Israeli occupation here."