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When former British prime minister Tony Blair became special Middle East envoy to the Quartet - the US, the EU, the UN and Russia - there were gasps of disbelief. Many saw it as a "pay-back" by President George W. Bush for Blair's support over the Iraq war, and other issues during Blair's tenure. But the appointment, initially opposed by Russia, startled people in the very region Blair was meant to be achieving solutions: the Middle East. Neither Israel, which had never looked upon Blair as close to its regime, nor Arabs, who still smarted over the decision to invade Iraq, thought the appointment wise and so were averse to the idea. It was also considered by many to be a sinecure posting which would give Blair a soft but lucrative landing after the toils and tribulations of premiership.
With so many channels from which to draw his generous salary and expenses, Blair has been able to set up offices with a large entourage to help him with his work. Naturally, as a special envoy to such reputable organisations and nations, it is likely Blair has not had the need to resort to the remunerations from his other profitable ventures.
But the time has come, surely, when Blair should start showing some results for the work he has allegedly been engaged in for the past year. His brief was to encourage trade and development in Gaza and the West Bank, in an attempt to reverse the unemployment and poverty in those areas; the political aspects of the equation were to be left to the US. However, as yet, nothing has been heard from Blair on what success, if any, he has made.
What he has said is the answer to the Israel-Palestine problem is a two-state solution. But he was not asked for his opinion on this.
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