The Middle East’s New Envoy

What happened

The four sponsors of the stagnant Middle East peace process met this week for the first time since Hamas seized control of Gaza, naming outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as its new special envoy to the region. Representatives of the so-called Quartet'”the U.S., European Union, Russia, and the United Nations'”called for Palestinians to unite under Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party remains in control of the West Bank. 'œThe only way to bring peace and stability to the Middle East is by a two-state solution,' Blair said in London, during his last speech as prime minister.

Israeli officials met with Abbas and said they would take steps to bolster his shaken regime, including releasing 250 Fatah prisoners and resuming monthly transfers of $50 million in Palestinian tax revenue. But tensions between Israel and Hamas mounted. At least 12 Palestinians were killed in what Israel described as a 'œpreventive' raid on Gaza, and Israeli tanks and troops exchanged fire with Hamas militants in several clashes.

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In an apparent bid to upstage the ongoing diplomacy, Hamas released an audio recording of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped from his post last year. 'œMy situation is deteriorating,' said Shalit. Another Islamist militant group released a video showing kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston wearing an explosive belt. It was the first time either hostage had been seen or heard.

What the editorials said

If anyone can get us out of this mess, said the Raleigh, N.C., News & Observer, it's Blair. His contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process prove his skill as a negotiator, and his remarks about Israel and the Palestinians have always been measured and thoughtful. 'œIt would not be easy for either side to label him as an ally or an enemy.' That's a start, at least.

But to succeed, said The New York Times, Blair will have to do something uncharacteristic: Stand up to George W. Bush. Blair's biggest flaw is 'œhis dismal refusal to speak unwelcome truths to people in power.' In his new role, he'll need to increase pressure on Israel to give the ground necessary for a lasting peace'”something Bush has refused to do. If Blair can manage that, 'œhe will get a chance to redeem a legacy badly tarnished by Iraq and to show that he means to be nobody's poodle.'

Even the best negotiator is only as good as the strategy he's promoting, said The Economist. International opinion is coalescing around a dubious plan to isolate Hamas while throwing money and support at Fatah. That could backfire badly if it makes 'œthe Islamists look like martyrs and the secularists look like traitors.' If Israel offers goodies but provides 'œno visible progress toward statehood,' Fatah will lose whatever credibility it has left.

What the columnists said

Supporting Abbas has backfired in the past, said Khaled Abu Toameh and Larry Derfner in U.S. News & World Report. Ever since the death of Yasser Arafat, the U.S. and Israel have pinned their hopes on his successor, Abbas, because he spoke out against terrorism. But 'œgood intentions or not, Abbas carried on where Arafat left off,' overseeing a regime that was every bit as corrupt. Hamas capitalized, and won control of the Palestinian parliament last year, giving it claim to a legitimacy that no terrorist group deserves.

We have little choice but to support Abbas, said Charles Kraut­hammer in The Washington Post, if only to show Palestinians the benefits of the path of peace. But it's equally important to hold up Hamas as a counterexample. Gaza must be completely isolated'”with only humanitarian aid allowed through. If Hamas launches rockets, Israel can cut off its gasoline shipments, which will bring road traffic to a halt. 'œThe next step should be to cut off electricity.' Let the world wail. 'œWhat other country on earth is expected to supply the very means for a declared enemy to attack it?'

What next?

Guardian