Blair Starts Middle East Peace Role

Tony blair yesterday kicked off his first visit to the Middle East as the international community’s new envoy to the region, hoping to add new momentum to fledgling peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians. The newly-appointed envoy for the quartet of Middle- East mediators – the US, EU, UN and Russia – arrived in Israel for his first visit in the post. During the two-day visit, Blair plans to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and officials. Blair arrives at a time when the Palestinian uprising has fizzled out and Israel has indicated its readiness to work with the new Palestinian leadership after seven years of stalemate.

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