EJP | News | Ramallah residents say Blair isn't welcome

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Ramallah residents say Blair isn't welcome

Updated: 07/Sep/2006 18:00

British Prime minister Tony Blair

Photo: EJP

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JERUSALEM (EJP)--- A group of residents and lawmakers from the Palestinian West Bank city of Ramallah have signed a statement saying British prime minister Tony Blair is not welcome in their city.

The statement, published in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, claimed that Blair, who is expected to visit the region in the near future, “was coming to wash the hands that are dripping Lebanese blood with Palestinian water."

The British lawmaker garnered massive criticism from politicians both in the UK and abroad for continually refusing to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah for the first few weeks of the 34-day conflict which ended on August 14 when the United Nations ceasefire resolution was passed.

The UK and America were two of the only countries who did not urge Israel to stop firing on Lebanon and this was raised by the Ramallah group.

"He wanted to give Israel’s army generals enough time to complete their destructive mission," the statement said

And they added that Blair is anti-Arab and pro-Israel. The statement read: "[Blair is] seeking to appease the Arabs and Muslims in light of his biased policies in favor of Israel and his backing for the American adventures. He’s trying to create the impression that he is making peaceful efforts to find a solution to the Palestinian cause."

Date not set

Blair was to arrive this weekend and meet with Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday.

It would be the first meeting between the two leaders since Olmert to London and held talks with Blair at his Downing Street residence in London in June.

In a press briefing earlier this week the British prime minister’s official spokesman talked up the importance of a visit to the Middle East but was unable to pinpoint a date.

The spokesman said: "A trip will be part of trying to get that process of re-engagement up and running. We need to get people to start the process of re-engagement. That takes small steps at this stage. This is not a problem which can continue to be allowed to drift.

"The events of the summer have reaffirmed the prime minister’s view of the need to address the underlying fundamental issue, and in particular, that means Palestine."

Not the right time

Blair’s Middle East envoy Lord Levy was in Israel last month but, according to reports, Olmert told him that the time was not right for him to come and that it was too soon after the war in Lebanon to talk with the Palestinians.

As questions continued to be asked about Blair’s role in the Middle East peace process United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan continued his Middle East tour.

On Monday he told a news conference in Saudi Arabia that he would point a secret mediator to negotiate between Israel and Hezbollah over the release of the Israeli soldiers kidnapped in June and July.

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