ISSUES....
Inside,
confidential, off the record
Blair
glitch project
At the time of Tony Blair’s departure in June from 10 Downing
Street, I reflected in the American Spectator on his confusing
the relationship between Middle Eastern turbulence and the Israeli-Palestinian
flashpoint, citing his 2003 speech, in which he stated that “This
[Middle Eastern] terrorism will not be defeated without peace in
the Middle East between Israel and Palestine. Here it is that the
poison is incubated. Here it is that the extremist is able to confuse
in the mind of a frighteningly large number of people the case
for a Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel.” As
I noted then, “This reverses matters. Terrorism is a symptom
of war, not an aberration that can be cured by peace. It follows
that its defeat is a condition of peacemaking, not the other way
around.” I also noted that Blair’s misconception bodes
ill for his performance as Quartet envoy, which post he had just
assumed. And so it has been.
Ponder the
sheer sterility of task. As Barry Rubin has wryly observed, “Now
he has taken the job as bag man for Fatah, becoming its full-time
fundraiser. No doubt, Swiss bankers and purveyors of luxury goods
to embezzling Fatah officials will have cause to thank him. Already,
though, Palestinians and Arab media are complaining that he is
pro-Israel, an enemy. They will take the money, but won't say thanks.” Indeed,
Blair’s task has been confined to encouraging Palestinian “reform,
economic development and institution-building” and before
having done anything, he was being castigated by Hamas, Egypt and
a variety of Arab analysts for pro-Israeli partiality (which is
to say, he believes Israel deserves to exist in peace). Yet, inasmuch
as Blair sees Palestinian lack as the heart of the issue, he has
proceeded on his way, much as Rubin predicted.
It is therefore
no surprise to find Blair declaring in a recent Jerusalem Post
interview that a “viable Palestinian state” is
needed to “guarantee” Israel’s long-term security.
In short, Blair continues to embrace the illusion that a Palestinian
state is the indispensable prophylactic that will insulate Israel
and the world from war, terrorism and extremism. As a result, his
term as envoy is bound to end in failure.
Daniel
Mandel / Nov. 12, 2007 / HNN
Petroleumworld
11 23 07
ISSUES....
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