Abbas/ Blair Digs Deeper Hole

Blair visits Ramallah and claims he will to aid progress towards a two-state solution


December 18, 2006

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on Monday, visited Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Following the meeting both premiers held a press conference before Blair met with Palestinian independents.

Blair began by stating that he and Abbas had had a detailed discussion regarding the Palestinian situation. He emphasized the importance of the international community working to support those Palestinian parties who want the two-state solution, stressing that Israel and Palestine should live side by side in peace.

He declared that Abbas satisfies all the criteria of a leader which the international community can support; claiming that he demonstrates "moderation and tolerance." He continued by stating that Abbas' recent address to the Palestinian people was a "landmark speech."

Blair said the next few weeks will be critical in forming the peace process, stating that we need to make progress because the people are suffering and security is being affected. Blair also said that Abbas had shown in his speech that nothing should stand in the way of progress.

Blair also declared support for the unity government in accordance with the intentions of the international community. He said that during the last six months, despite his best efforts, Abbas had failed to achieve an agreement on the issue of the unity government. He said that if people want to participate in the unity they should, but that, "no one should have a veto on progress."

Blair said that following his visit, he will call on the international community to mobilize and support Abbas' office and give him the strength to deliver. In the coming weeks, he claimed, he would support Palestinian reconstruction and development and help to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

Blair claimed that the two-state solution is the only solution and that he, "believes in the two state solution." He then harshly criticized Hamas, claiming that the national unity government was not possible, "because the principles on which government should be formed are not accepted by Hamas, progress is held back by Hamas refusal, everyone else is on the same line."

James from the BBC, posed the following questions: "You have extolled the virtues of democracy in this region, but are you now not simply picking and choosing your democracies? How much money are you willing to put on the table and are you bribing the Palestinian people?" To which Blair responded with characteristic evasion, "We respect any democratic mandate, the President has a democratic mandate, he is the elected President… Our job is to support people of moderation. The British government is not negotiating with Hamas; recent events have demonstrated the impossibility of people being able to reach out in circumstances where Hamas prevail."

Another journalist asked: "Israeli sources have said that they attach no significance to your visit and that you only go on these trips when you're weak at home. They're right aren't they?"

Blair said: "It is not about domestic politics verses international politics, but how it all fits together." He concluded by saying that there are, "Obstructions to progress. I will find a way around these obstructions and make progress."

Links:

Editorial: Democracy, Made to Order?

Abbas to Push Ahead With Elections

Hamas: Olmert's statement reveals those allied with the enemy