“It’s like a criminal returning to the scene of his crime,” said Abdel Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi. “He should be pelted with rotten eggs and tomatoes, because he destroyed us, as Arabs and Muslims.”

From The Sunday Times

July 22, 2007

Blair to inspect Jerusalem palace as home for his peace envoy role

Marie Colvin and Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv

TONY BLAIR is expected to inspect a prospective new home - known locally as a palace - when he travels to Jerusalem tomorrow on his first trip to the Middle East as a peace envoy.

He is said to be keen to take over the one-time residence of the British High Commissioner for Palestine, with its ballroom and spectacular view of the golden dome of Al-Aqsa mosque.

The house, built of Jerusalem stone in 1931, was once the pride of British diplomacy and occupies a commanding position in West Jerusalem on the inauspiciously named Hill of Evil Counsel, where Judas is said to have negotiated his betrayal of Jesus. It has acres of lush gardens filled with delphiniums, roses and trees. After the British mandate ended in 1948, it was taken over by the United Nations.



Last day of British Mandate at British High commissioner Jerusalem palace





Security fears about such a prominent residence might still block the deal as Blair is regarded as a target for Palestinian extremists.

The Union Flag was lowered for the last time in 1948 just as Israel was founded and Government House was taken over first by the International Red Cross before passing to its current user, the United Nations.

It is understood Mr Blair's representatives have expressed a discrete interest in Government House, not least because its hilltop position atop Mount Mukhaber makes it relatively easy to secure.

But some diplomatic rank pulling will have to take place to dislodge the current UN staff.

Blair will travel to Jerusalem as envoy of the Quartet, the grouping of the UN, the European Union, America and Russia, charged with implementing the “road map”, a blueprint for peace through confidence-build-ing measures intended to lead to a peace agreement between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Blair’s room for manoeuvre will be limited. His job is solely to help the Palestinians to restart their economy and rebuild their infrastructure and state.

His predecessor, James Wolfensohn, told an Israeli paper last week: “The mandate he has been given . . . is exactly the same as mine. It speaks about helping the Palestinians but there is nothing there about negotiating peace.”

This is likely to produce tensions. Blair has shown signs of wanting to play a wider role, similar to his part in the Northern Ireland peace process. “I hope I can offer something in bringing about a solution to this issue that is of such fundamental importance to the world,” he said in Lisbon last week.

Israeli security services are taking extraordinary measures to protect him amid fears that he could be attacked by militants angry over Britain’s role in the occupation of Iraq. In the past few days Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, has arrested about 20 extremists described as “rogue Islamist elements”.

Publicly, Arab anger runs high. “It’s like a criminal returning to the scene of his crime,” said Abdel Bari Atwan, editor of the London-based newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi. “He should be pelted with rotten eggs and tomatoes, because he destroyed us, as Arabs and Muslims.”

Rami Khouri, a leading Arab journalist, wrote: “Making Blair envoy to the Middle East is like appointing Nero fire chief in Rome.”

Privately, Palestinian officials hope that his status as a world leader and his closeness to President George W Bush could at least pump some energy into the peace process. The murderous feud between Fatah, the main-stream party of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist party that seized control of Gaza last month, makes Blair’s task even harder.

Western diplomats said that the personal charm and tenacity that helped Blair win a Northern Ireland peace agreement should not be underestimated.

Palestinian officials said they would suggest to Blair that any agreement should be within the framework of the 2002 Arab League initiative, which called for a comprehensive peace in return for Israel’s withdrawal from the territories conquered in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/w ... 116144.ece

High commissioner Blair coming back after 59 years

This story's a joke, right?

Why? They need to settle the mess that Britain left



He is said to be keen to take over the one-time residence of the British High Commissioner for Palestine. In Jerusalem there is a neighborhood called " Armon Hanatziv" (Hebrew for High commissioner palace) where all the major streets called after Jewish terrorists who were hanged by the Brits.


In the early 1970s, the status of Irgun and Stern Gang changed, when streets throughout the country began to be named for them. The most prominent instance is in Jerusalem's Armon Hanatziv ( neighborhood, which was built after the area was captured in the Six-Day War. In a gesture of "historic vengeance," its main street in the neighborhood, not far from the mansion in which the British high commissioner lived during the Mandate, was called "Olei Hagardom"


Olei Ha-Gardom

(Hebrew. "Those who went to the Gallows") The term refers to the 12 Jews sentenced to death by the British Mandatory Government for their underground activities against the British Government. Two of the twelve individuals escaped the hangman by taking their own life while awaiting their fate on death row. The members of the group were affiliated with either the Irgun or the Lehi, with Shlomo ben Yosef, who was hung prior to the establishment of the underground organizations, being the only exception

Most Palestinians have positive views towards Britain in general. They treated them quite generously actually during their reign of power.

A Palestinian Arab anti-British protest leaflet



1929 rebellion suppressed by British soldiers.



A Palestinan source

http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org/reso ... ter05.html

In 1933, during a one-day work stoppage called by Palestinians against the mandate, British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of Jaffa demonstrators, killing twenty-seven people, including the eighty-year-old head of the Arab Executive. Demonstrations spread to Nablus, Jerusalem and Haifa - and to Syria, Iraq and Transjordan as well.


In 1936, the mandate government's answer to the strike was immediate and harsh. It announced a substantial increase in the immigration quotas for Jews for the next month and ordered the cutting of all telephone and telegraph wires from Palestine to surrounding Arab countries. The long-term strategy for dealing with the strike was simple: force and more force. The High Commissioner announced that British soldiers were free to fire on demonstrators.

British offices in most cities were closed and British troops placed Jerusalem under a five-day siege. In a four-month period, the British dynamited five thousand houses, added a thousand more prisoners to the three thousand already in jail and executed one hundred forty-eight prisoners in Acre prison alone.

Confronted with the prospect of a prolonged Palestinian resistance, the British took a long, hard look at their situation in the Middle East. War with Hitler's Germany was fast approaching. Just as in World War I, Britain would need Arab help, Arab oil and secure shipping routes. This was not the time to be fighting the Arabs. Furthermore, the rebellion in Palestine was tying down one-third of all British troops. To avoid greater damage to its empire, Britain decided to turn once again to paper promises for the Palestinians.

The British White Paper of 1939 suddenly reversed Britain's twenty-year policy toward Palestine. But the turn-around from guns and tanks to slippery diplomacy did not convince the Palestinians. They rejected the White Paper.

It can hardly get worse than it already is.

It can hardly get worse than it already is.

Sadly, I'm not sure I can agree.

I'm inclined to think Blair's appointment is a flawed decision. Although he's undoubtedly an intelligent man and probably has a genuine desire to do good, he will be undermined by his [arguably deserved] reputation in the Muslim world and probably by his personal bias towards Israel which may effect his ability to reach compromises; although Blair will certainly be better at disregarding this than Bush has been, it may still come into play.

Veradis

I'm inclined to think Blair's appointment is a flawed decision... he will be undermined by his personal bias towards Israel which may effect his ability to reach compromises

But bias towards the Arabs would help him? The Palestinian problem has only one reasonable solution that is to turn the clock to pre-1967 political situation with regard to Egypt and Jordan involvement. Since the Palestinians themeselves refuse to this and Israel can't compormise with its own basic interests there will be no solution any way.

A Palestinan source

http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org/reso ... ter05.html

Newjerseysolidarity.org is a palestinian source?!

And a contemporary one? Sure, the palestinian internet of 1929 was very sophisticated...of course this is a modern source, influenced by modern political agendas...

The Palestinian problem has only one reasonable solution that is to turn the clock to pre-1967 political situation

No political conflict was ever solved by turning back the clock. You can't turn back the clock, impossible. You have to deal with todays' reality, regardless how much you don't like it.


And by the way, why does anyone seriously believe that Blair will have any influence on the situation in Israel? He's just a powerless envoy with no influence. He's just known, but actually it doesn't make any difference if this position is filled by known Tony Blair or unknown John Doe.

Peace must come from Israelis and Palestines themselves.

Quote:

A Palestinan source

http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org/reso ... ter05.html


Newjerseysolidarity.org is a palestinian source?!

Yes it is. The chronology is based on Ghassan Kanafani work.

Our Mission

New Jersey Solidarity--Activists for the Liberation of Palestine is a grassroots organization dedicated to resistance and action in support of the Palestinian struggle for justice, national liberation, human rights and self-determination. We are dedicated to building coalitions, educating the public, spreading awareness, and organizing actions and events that highlight the pressing need for justice and spotlight ways in which we may take part in securing meaningful justice in Palestine. We are committed to standing in solidarity with the liberation struggle of the Palestinian people, supporting Palestinian resistance, and developing a strong and united resistance movement in the United States in solidarity with the liberation of Palestine.

"New Jersey Solidarity - Activists for the Liberation of Palestine is a community/student alliance and a registered Rutgers student organization. We engage in activism and education to support and build solidarity for the national liberation struggle of the Palestinian people, and against imperialism and oppression everywhere. We invite you to join us!"

They are Americans.

Granted, interested in the palestinian cause and doing ... something (I won't comment on the value of their actions), but it's an american source nonetheless. Palestinian-orientated, but not palestinian.

I linked this site to proudtobeamerican comment

proudtobeamerican

Most Palestinians have positive views towards Britain in general. They treated them quite generously actually during their reign of power.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, Monday, July 23, 2007.
Oded Balilty / AP

There can be no progress in the Palestinian Territories without Israels say so, as such there can be no progress in the territories without further diplomacy between Israel and the Palestinians.

And Tony Blair, close friend of George Bush and high profile represetive of Britain has a mandate to push progress in the Palestinian territories...

Do the maths people, he is there to encourage Israel to the negotiating table while engagin in active diplomacy with the Palestinians and he has a high proflie and alot of influence still I have no doubt to help him.

He's a controversial choice yes, but he has the charm, drive and connections and is now in the right place to really make a difference in negotiations and progress for the future.

A high profile, diplomatic figurehead with a lot of connections and a history of success where failure was deemed the only way things were going.

Torwan

And by the way, why does anyone seriously believe that Blair will have any influence on the situation in Israel? He's just a powerless envoy with no influence.

Carpe Veritas

And Tony Blair, close friend of George Bush and high profile represetive of Britain has a mandate to push progress in the Palestinian territories...

What Carpe Veritas said. Blair gains his influence from Bush authority.


Carpe Veritas

What is unique in the Middle East is how Britain is perceived. While Britain generally conducted pro-Arab policy, (the Balfour decleration was an accident) the Arabs have never felt any positive obligation for them. And the Jews who so much suffered from British policy (the rejection of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust) are still the greatest Anglophiles. This was the case throughout (British mandate) history until its last two years (1945-1947) when the Jewish mood was one of disillusionment and anger. For short time Britain who rejected the Jews for Arab interests left with no friends in the region. The struggle with Jewish insurgency was bloody and bitter, more than the one which Britain suffered with the previous Arab insurgency. Today time and again the Brits reject Israel for supposedly Arab friendship, which never materialised.

Blair gains his influence from Bush authority.

And how much influence does Bush have in Israel or Palestine? Not enough to make a difference.

I don't expect any progress just because Blair is now there. He has as much influence as any other envoy had - close to zero.

And how much influence does Bush have in Israel or Palestine? Not enough to make a difference.

Um are you feeling ok, vision alright? Because you can't seem to see whats directly in front of you - Israel has grown lived and thrived under U.S. patronage since before there even was an Israel!

To pretend the U.S. has no influence (in all sectors - economic, political and Military) over Israel is plain wrong.

And practically no one influences the Palestinians these days because of the policy of Isolation we have been playing for the last decade. That may change in the future though...

Torwan

I don't expect any progress just because Blair is now there. He has as much influence as any other envoy had - close to zero.

Indeed there is no final solution that Israel and the Palestinians can agree with. What the maximam Israel can offer will not be satisfactory to the minimum Palestinan demands.

But Blair can do the Palestinan lives more manageable and easy. Not like Northern Ireland but more like Cyprus who also had walls, checkpoints and fences, all the result of the arm conflict in 1974. To find a workable "temporary settlement" without to solve the "root cause" of the conflict. We don't hear about Tibet, don't we? Not every conflict can be solved. But lives can go on with or without "just solution".

Every conflic has it own historical moment. It seems in Northern Ireland the historical process brought the protagonists to agreement when each side kept its interests. This is not yet the case in the Middle East.


Edward Luttwak, a senior fellow at the centre for Strategic and International Studies, urged decision makers to 'leave the Palestinians alone.' He believes that there will be no solution to the crisis until the Palestinians understand that they need to adopt 'realistic solutions' and cease toying with 'dreams.' It is best, he says, to let the Palestinians become accustomed to the fact that if they do not help themselves, they will get nothing.

He's very popular in Israel

Everyone wants a piece of Tony

By Aluf Benn

"He is smart, intelligent, not full of himself and has extraordinary personal charm. He knows how to listen and is not at all officious."

"He is first and foremost an extraordinarily nice person."

"A leader of world caliber, talented, charming and intelligent. Basically, a friend of Israel."



"Inquisitive, mainly wants to listen, a serious chap who is well-liked in the world, the best man for the job."

These are some of the enthusiastic compliments with which Israeli politicians who met with him, showered Tony Blair, the new Middle East Quartet envoy to the region. His two-day visit to Jerusalem seemed like the TV ad of two women fighting over the a Milky pudding: the most senior politicians vied with each other just to get some time in the former British prime minister's crowded schedule, in spite of which he even managed to include a short visit to Ramallah. After a decade in power, Blair may have lost popularity among the British, but he has numerous admirers in Israel.

Blair's visit left no doubt about it - an international rock star is now dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. None of the previous personalities or emissaries enjoyed a similar standing, or the prestige and political savoir faire Blair has brought with him to the position. Even the likes of Terje Roed-Larsen, Dennis Ross or James Wolfensohn can't be compared to him.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/886696.html



New Quartet Mideast Envoy Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, right, smiles as he shakes hands with the doorman as he arrives at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, Monday, July 23, 2007. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday began his foray into Middle East diplomacy, hoping to add new momentum to fledgling peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)

@Carpe Veritas:

Bush may have influence in Israel, but in Palestine? No, Sir, not a shred of influence.

And since the conflict of Israel and the Palestinians has grown beyond "reason" and "common sense", his influence in Israel is far lower (in this regard) than in "normal" issues...