[continued from previous message] 
  
 Bush and Blair were caught on an open microphone talking about whether 
 US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should head to the region, or 
 whether Blair should go himself. [7] Blair said to Bush, "If she goes 
 out, she's got to succeed, as it were, whereas I can just go out and 
 talk." 
  
 That is exactly what Blair's new function will be. He can just go out 
 and talk. The Middle East Quartet -- in the words of Alvaro de Soto, "a 
 group of friends of the US" -- wants Blair to operate according to the 
 model of the previous envoy, James Wolfensohn. In his leaked End of 
 Mission Report [8], De Soto, who was the UN Special Coordinator for the 
 Middle East Peace Process and envoy to the Quartet, wrote that Blair's 
 predecessor Wolfensohn was first introduced by US Secretary of State 
 Condoleezza Rice as a US special envoy. "The terms of reference 
 originally proposed would have given Wolfensohn a writ, essentially 
 covering the entire peace process, much wider than the narrower one 
 that emerged." De Soto also noticed that Wolfensohn's mission "began to 
 run aground after his attempts to broker an agreement on access and 
 movement were intercepted -- some would say hijacked -- at the last 
 minute by the US envoys and ultimately Rice herself." This does not 
 look good for Tony Blair. Wolfensohn left the scene with "a more 
 jaundiced view of Israel (and US) policies than he had upon entering." 
  
 It is hard to escape the impression that Blair -- despised at home and 
 saddled with the weight of Iraq -- is still seeking a way to salvage a 
 "legacy." Yet it is hard to imagine a person lesson suited to be a 
 peace envoy to the Middle East. 
  
 In the meantime, one shouldn't expect much from Britain's new prime 
 minister Gordon Brown. Britain, together with Germany and the 
 Netherlands, traditionally supports Israel within European political 
 debates. This will not change. Brown has not shown much interest in the 
 issue and policy experts do not expect Britain to play a major role. 
 Israel is content with not only Blair's appointment as new Quartet 
 special envoy but also the appointment of Simon McDonald, a former 
 British ambassador to Israel, as Brown's foreign policy advisor. 
 Israeli officials see McDonald as "friend of Israel." According to the 
 Israeli daily Haaretz, McDonald has been considered one of the most 
 influential foreign envoys posted to Israel, and one well-connected to 
 Israeli decision-makers. Though the faces may change, Britian's 
 one-sided policy line remains the same. 
  
  
 Footnotes 
  
 [1] Speech by PM Tony Blair to LFI Annual Reception (26 September 2006). 
  
 [2] Michael Levy: Lord Cashpoint, Paul Vallely, The Independent (18 
 March 2006); Lord Levy: Labour's fundraiser, BBC News (6 March 2007); 
 "Blair's chance to raise cash for Pounds 1m refund", Andrew Pierce, The 
 Times (18 November 1997); "British Jewish vote undergoes shift as Labor 
 Party modifies Israel stance", Richard Allen Green, Jewish Telegraphic 
 Agency (8 May 2001); Blair's meeting with Arafat served to disguise his 
 support for Sharon and the Zionist project, John Pilger, New Statesman 
 (14 January 2002). 
  
 [3] Lord Levy to quit envoy role when Blair stands down as PM, Colin 
 Brown, The Independent (24 May 2007). 
  
 [4] London Meeting on Supporting the Palestinian Authority, Foreign & 
 Commonwealth Office (1 March 2005). 
  
 [5] President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Hold Press Conference, Office 
 of the Press Secretary (6 April 2002); Sharon Says He Will Expedite 
 Israeli Military Offensive, CNN Breaking News (6 April 2002); Pull 
 back, Bush orders Sharon, Peter Beaumont, The Observer (7 April 2002). 
  
 [6] Cabinet in open revolt over Blair's Israel policy, The Observer (30 
 July 2006). 
  
 [7] Transcript: Bush and Blair's unguarded chat, BBC News (18 July 
 2006) 
  
 [8] End of Mission Report (PDF) Alvaro de Soto (May 2007). 
  
 [Arjan El Fassed is a cofounder of The Electronic Intifada.] 
  
  
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