Middle East Quartet (the US, UN, EU, and Russia) envoy Tony Blair announced on Wednesday that after eight years of attempting to promote economic development and institution building in the Palestinian Authority, as well as other measures designed to move forward the so-called “peace process” between Israel and the PA, he will resign his position effective at the end of June. According to a source close to the former British prime minister, Blair remains “completely committed to assisting the international community to bring about progress [in the Israeli-Palestinian diplomatic process], but believes that the best way is without a formal role and by working with key regional players, the US and the EU.” He was warmly praised and his departure deeply regretted by Quartet diplomats and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Read More
