Tony Blair is preparing to step back from his role as envoy for the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators as the US and Europe review policy options ahead of Israel’s nail-biting election this week, Financial Times reported.
After nearly eight years, the former British prime minister has recognised that a frontline role is no longer tenable, according to several people familiar with the situation. His move comes amid deep unease in parts of Washington and Brussels over his poor relations with senior Palestinian Authority figures and sprawling business interests.
Mr Blair is embarking on delicate negotiations to recast his Middle East role but is determined to remain part of the peace process. He met John Kerry, US secretary of state, on Saturday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss a possible role change. He also spoke to Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief, who is pushing for a revamp of the Quartet and for Europe to take a more robust stance on Israel’s conduct.
If Mr Blair does step aside or take an informal position it would end the controversial arrangement that has made him a fixture of Middle East diplomacy while conducting private business with some regional governments that he also deals with through the Quartet, which represents the UN, US, EU and Russia.
No final decisions have yet been taken by the Quartet but a clarification of Mr Blair’s role could come later this week. Mr Blair’s office declined to comment.
Although Mr Kerry is a supporter of Mr Blair’s continued involvement, some other senior figures in Washington told the Financial Times they wanted Mr Blair to step aside. Concerns include his multiple charitable, diplomatic and commercial interests. Ms Mogherini, meanwhile, is looking beyond Mr Blair as she recalibrates Europe’s approach and appoints a new EU Middle East envoy.