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Blair: Distrust blocks progress
05/11/2007 21:31 - (SA)
Jerusalem - International Mideast envoy Tony Blair prodded Israelis to drop their scepticism about full peace with the Palestinians, but said the Jewish state should not compromise its security demands.
In an interview published on Monday in The Jerusalem Post, Blair said it is "not impossible" that a future Palestinian state will become a "stable partner for Israel". Blair said Israelis had no other alternative but to "put it to the test".
The former British prime minister spoke during a one-day visit to the region. Since June, Blair has represented the Quartet of Mideast mediators - the US, EU, United Nations and Russia - helping the Palestinians lay the groundwork for a viable independent state.
Blair's visit comes ahead of a conference in the United States in which the Palestinians and Israelis hope to present a document on how to solve the hurdles left in the peace process.
US President George W Bush hopes the gathering, expected to take place this year, will lead to a full resumption of negotiations after nearly seven years.
A general Israeli distrust of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's attempts to progress toward a final peace agreement is preventing progress, Blair said.
The right terms
He said there has to be a "psychological shift" in Israeli thinking. Although it is clear that Olmert "is absolutely up for it" it will only become clear in the next few weeks if "everyone is prepared to get behind that", Blair said.
Blair said he understands Israeli security needs.
"I get your security situation completely," Blair said. "If I was you, I would not yield on security at all. That's not my point. My point is a different one: If a Palestinian state is ultimately in your long-term interest for reasons of security, you should try and make it happen on the right terms."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is willing to make the sacrifices necessary for an agreement between the sides, Blair said.
"It is possible to see how an agreement could be reached." Blair said. "In my view the Palestinians are prepared to be realistic, sensible and focused in agreeing those terms in the final status negotiations."
- AP
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