LONDON (EJP)--- An independent Palestinian state is vital to ensure Israel’s long-term stability, British Prime Minister Tony Blair reiterated on Wednesday before wide-ranging talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at Downing Street.
Speaking in the House of Commons during a lunchtime address to announce a partial pullout of UK troops from Iraq, Blair also detailed his wider vision for the Middle East, claiming peace between Israel and the Palestinians is "crucial" and that only by removing Palestinian grievances could Israel be secure.
The Prime Minister revealed he had had "detailed discussions" with President George W. Bush in the past 24 hours on the issue ahead of today’s talks with ¨President Abbas.
"I have always been a supporter of the state of Israel and I will always remain so," Blair said.
"But for the sake of Israel, as well as all we want to achieve in the Middle East, we need a proper, well-functioning independent and viable state of Palestine."
Iranian threat
Also in his speech, Blair indicated that Iran was a greater threat than Syria, claiming they should not be "treated the same".
The Prime Minister said there was evidence that Syria recognised the threat posed by al-Qaida and was acting against it, but its intentions towards Iraq remained "ambiguous" and it was "hostile" to the Lebanese Government.
Statements coming out of Tehran remained "contradictory," he added, before calling on both countries to work with the international community or face international isolation.
He added: "But what nobody should doubt is that whatever the debates about tactics, the strategy must be clear - to bring about enduring change in the Middle East as an indispensable part of our own enduring security," he said.
"The poisonous ideology that erupted after 9/11 has its roots there and is still nurtured and supported there.
"It has chosen Iraq as the battleground, defeating it is essential. Essential for Iraq, but also essential for us here in our own country.
"Self-evidently the challenge is enormous, it is the purpose of our enemies to make it so.
"But our purpose in the face of their threat should be to stand up to them, to make it clear that however arduous the challenge the values that they represent will not win and the values that we represent will."
