Jerusalem
Tony Blair was only mildly optimistic this week as he began his new role as Middle East envoy. “I think there is a sense of possibility,” Blair said, “but whether that sense of possibility can be translated into something, that is something that needs to be worked at and thought about over time.” The former British prime minister was appointed by the so-called Middle East Quartet—Russia, the U.S., the E.U., and the U.N.—to help the Palestinians assemble the economic and political tools they need to build a state. He’s not mandated to discuss the overarching problems that must be resolved, such as borders, refugees, or the status of Jerusalem. Nor is he allowed to meet members of Hamas, the militant Islamist party that won Palestinian elections last year and has since taken over Gaza. As a first step this week, Blair met separately with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and Arab ministers.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Sleaze baack!'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
Quiz of The Week: 20 - 26 AprilPuzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Humza Yousaf clears the decks to battle no-confidence voteSpeed Read First minister is 'done', according to insider, but a single vote could change the balance
