Middle east envoy urges Israeli government to take decisions now
Tony Blair - Photo EC
(BRUSSELS) - Middle East envoy Tony Blair urged Israel's new government Wednesday to accept the idea of a Palestinian state and open up the Gaza Strip, warning that the next six months were critical.
"There are decisions that have to be taken now that are obvious and clear decisions," he told reporters after talks in Brussels with EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
"Are we going to get the major change that we want, are we going to see people commit themselves to a two state solution? If this doesn't happen, month after month, with no progress, then everything we know about this situation teaches us that it will go backwards," he said.
His remarks came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his second term in office, with the Palestinians warning that his hawkish, largely right-wing, cabinet "does not believe in peace."
In his inaugural address to the 120-seat parliament Tuesday, Netanyahu said he would pursue a "final accord" with the Palestinians, while making no mention of a future Palestinian state.
Blair warned that "the next six months actually will be completely critical in determining whether this process can move forward or whether it will slip back."
He said success depended on the political track moving forward combined with results on the ground, like the opening of conflict-shattered Gaza and security and institutional improvements made by the Palestinians in the West Bank.
More than 1,300 Palestinians were killed in Israel's land, sea and air assault, Operation Cast Lead, launched on December 27 in the impoverished coastal strip to stop Hamas firing rockets at Israeli civilians.
Some 5,300 people were wounded, with 4,100 homes destroyed and 17,000 damaged. Israel lost 10 soldiers and three civilians.
"The continued closure of Gaza crossings is indeed a matter of deep concern," Ferrero-Waldner said. "I'm really very worried that the people of Gaza are suffering enormously as a direct result."
She said Israel was blocking the flow of money into Gaza, which meant that EU support payments to vulnerable families and pensioners were not getting through.
"We will continue of course to work with an Israeli government," she said, "But we expect the government to commit to a two-state solution."
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