Blair: Middle East peace deal unlikely by year-end 16/07/2008 - 10:02:31
A peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is unlikely before the end of the year, former British prime minister Tony Blair said today.
Mr Blair, now an international Middle East envoy, told the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds that questions surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s political fate have complicated the peace effort.
He said “the political situation in Israel makes it difficult to continue being optimistic about reaching a peace treaty between the Israelis and Palestinians by the end of the year”. But he added that both sides were still determined to work for peace.
The comments were published a day after he cancelled a planned visit to the Gaza Strip.
Mr Blair said he is determined to visit the Hamas-ruled territory.
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A peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is unlikely before the end of the year, former British prime minister Tony Blair said today.
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