Arab nations eager for peace: Blair

International Middle East envoy Tony Blair said today that he believes the Arab and Israeli perspectives on an acceptable permanent peace accord are very similar.

Mr Blair, who serves as the representative for the “Quartet” of international Middle East mediators, told The Jerusalem Post daily that Arab nations are as eager for a speedy resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the Israelis.

The former prime minister, who has been touring the Arab world, concluded that “the Arabs genuinely want this settled now,” according to the newspaper.

Mr Blair said the Arab world is currently “in transition” between the younger generation on the “cutting edge of globalisation” and the “Islamists’ battle to the death.”

From his talks, Mr Blair said he concluded that the overriding sentiment in the Arab world was for settling the conflict, often agreeing with Israel on “some of the most sensitive questions,” but the newspaper report did not give any specifics about issues he felt were close to agreement. Also, Mr Blair did not say which Arab leaders gave him that impression.

Mr Blair took over as Middle East envoy for the “Quartet” – The US, EU, UN and Russia – last summer.

Mr Blair, whose mandate is promoting economic development in the Palestinian territories, said he met Palestinian business leaders, who told him that hundreds of Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank have stifled the economy.

While recognising Israel’s security concerns, Blair told the newspaper that Israel must ease restrictions, starting with allowing Palestinian merchants freer travel.