Blair says Middle East peace deal possible

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Jan 11, 2008, 7:44 GMT

A handout photograph supplied by the Palestinian Authority on 09 January 2008 shows Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meeting with Tony Blair, the special Middle East envoy of the Quartet, as he visits Abbas\' Ramallah, West Bank headquarters a day before US President George Bush is due to meet Abbas in Ramallah. EPA/OMAR RASHIDI

(M&C) - Former PM Tony Blair has spoken out in support of President George Bush's negotiated peace efforts in the Middle East saying an agreement between Israel and Palestinian authorities was possible.

Mr Blair, who now acts as Middle East Quartet envoy was speaking to reporters after meeting with Mr Bush.

"Sure, it is absolutely possible to have a peace deal by the end of the year if people want to make it happen," he said but added, all sides involved must, "...have the courage to take the difficult decisions to make the difficult compromises".

Mr Blair's comments come after two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He said both Mr Bush and his Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice were "absolutely and totally committed" to the Middle East peace process.

He said: "I think given the determination there is to succeed and given the desire on the part of the American leadership, the Israeli leadership, the Palestinian leadership to see it happen, I think people could be surprised this year.

"People in Israel - they don't want to pay the price of the world's desire to have a peace deal, and I totally understand that and I am a strong supporter of the state of Israel, and this should only happen under terms which guarantee Israel's security."

"But if we can achieve those terms and give the Palestinian people a state, then I think there is nothing more important in the battle against... extremism and terrorism that is fairly deep-rooted in many parts of the world today," Mr Blair said.

He said there was no other option than to have an Israeli and a Palestinian state living side by side.