Blair’s New Role: Build Palestinian Institutions

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is wasting no time in making the transition from 10 years at the helm of British government to heading an effort to create the institutions that the Palestinian Authority needs as it considers statehood. U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will continue to lead political negotiations while Blair focuses on the economy. He will try to stimulate international investment in the P.A., work for economic reforms and build the institutions necessary for statehood. Israel and the Palestinian Authority, headed by Mahmoud ‘Abbas, welcomed Blair’s role, but Hamas was critical of Blair. Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said that as Britian’s prime minister, Blair "was not honest and was not helpful in solving the conflict in the Middle East."