BICOM

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is reportedly set to step back from his role as the Quartet’s Middle East envoy, but is likely to remain in a different regional role promoting peace.

Blair has been the representative of the Quartet (United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia) for almost eight years, with a brief to help mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) and in particular to support Palestinian economic development. However, the Financial Times says that Blair’s apparent poor relations with the Palestinian leadership and his growing independent business interests in the region have prompted a re-think.

Apparently, Blair met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and also spoke with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and it was decided that he would step down from his current position, but would take up a less formal role in promoting peace. Reuters says that such a position would have a greater regional dimension and would also maintain work on boosting the Palestinian economy. There has been no official word from Blair’s office, but the Financial Times claims that his role could be clarified later this week.

Blair has notched up some limited successes as the Quartet’s envoy. He helped ensure that Israel smoothed the path for the establishment of the Palestinian Wataniya mobile phone network in the West Bank and he also oversaw an agreement for UK commercial involvement in a Palestinian offshore drilling project.

Blair spoke out just a few weeks ago following a visit to the Gaza Strip, underscoring the need for swift reconstruction following Operation Protective Edge. He mainly pointed the finger at Palestinian bureaucratic intransigence and the failure of the international community to fulfil aid pledges for Gaza rebuilding. He also encouraged Israel to relax restrictions, which it has taken significant steps to put into place during the past several weeks.