Blair says that Palestinians and Israelis Reached a Secret Agreement

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has stated publicly that Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have reached a secret agreement.

In an interview with the leading Palestinian daily Al Quds, Blair stated that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have resolved differences between them, although he was careful to note that this agreement has not been signed. When pressed by the Palestinian reporter about the failure of the Annapolis process which began last year, Blair stated the following: "The continuous meetings between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and [Israeli leader] Olmert as well as the continuous negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli teams has produced an agreement." Blair said that he respects the choice of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders not to divulge details and therefore he would not give any further details.

Tony Blair who represents the Quartet Committee for Peace in the Middle East praised the courage of US President George Bush for his public pursuit for an agreement on a Palestinian state before the end of his term. Leaders of the US, Israel and the Palestinian Authority are in the last months of their terms in office. President Bush's last days in office is January 20th, Olmert has resigned and new elections are slated for February 2009, and the legal term of Mahmoud Abbas is due to expire January 9th. Blair praised President Elect Obama saying that he worked closely with General Jones who Obama choose as national security advisor.

On Iraq, Blair refused to admit that the decision he took as prime minister of the United Kingdom in 2003 to invade Iraq was wrong saying that Iran and Al Qaeeda were a threat to the national security of Iraq. Blair blamed the thousands of Iraqis killed in Iraq on Al Qaeeda and other militias. The interview in Al Quds can be read in Arabic here.

Follow Daoud Kuttab on Twitter: www.twitter.com/daoudkuttab

Comments

[baffy]

The chances of any kind of agreement in the foreseeable future are slim to none. With Abass' term expiring in early January, Israeli elections in early February, a breakdown in the truce with Hamas and all the settler violence, nothing can happen anytime soon.

[chaos4700]

Well, and frankly, the chances that this agreement actually exists at all is slim to none. Blair's career to this point as a Middle Eastern envoy has amounted to little more than showboating. Considering he's blatantly pro-Israel and still operating under the delusion that invading Iraq was the right thing to do, I wouldn't put much stock in this. I suppose it's a small comfort that there might at least be actual negotiations taking place.

[SuperSam]

Iz-ra.el and all their extremist groups will never accept any peace with the Palestinians no matter what compromises are made.
They will make sure no deal is ever made.

[Michale32086]

Assumes facts not in evidence.

Clearly, it's the terrorists groups of Hamas and Hezbollah that are the impediments to the peace process..

Michale....

[baffy]

FYI Hamas and Hezbolla did not even exist before the '67 occupation.
Israel could not be happier with the status quo. No Israelis are being killed (while the Israeli killing machine just keeps going and going). Settlements are expanding nicely in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The economy is booming. Most importantly, nobody, including the Arab world, gives a damn about the fate of the Palestinians.
Nothing succeeds like illegal occupation and oppression. 41 years and counting.

[peterg76]

I think it's less the "public pursuit for an agreement" by George Bush and more that fact this is one part of the world that he's left alone.

[GZLives]

Hamas and all the islamist groups will never accept any peace with Jews no matter what compromises are made.
They will make sure no deal is ever made

[Michale32086]

Ding, Ding, Ding!! We HAVE a winner!! :D

If I had read your post first, I wouldn't have had to answer Mr SuperSam above.

Michale.....

[sticksnstones]

Assumes facts not in evidence.

Clearly, it's the Israelis that are impediments to the peace process..

My point..... any regional conflict requires two or more participants. See above.

[Michale32086]

That's like claiming that the Allies were "impediments to the peace process" because they fought back against the Axis in WWII...

The Israelis have always shown that they are willing to live in peace..

They simply have one request. That Palestinian terrorists quit killing Israelis...

Until the Palestinians reign in their extremist elements, they will always be as they are today...

Michale.....