Tony Blair barely stepped down as British prime minister to become the Quartet’s special envoy to the Mideast, and already, there’s a discrepancy between what Blair’s job description is and what the BBC would like it to be. Here’s how the LA Times summed up Blair’s new duties:
Blair’s job will focus on narrow and technical topics rather than broader issues related to a final Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement, officials said. His assignment is to increase humanitarian aid, strengthen the Palestinian economy and improve the governance of the territories.
And as the NY Times points out, Condoleezza Rice will continue to push for the bigger picture issues of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
But contrast all that with BBC bureau chief Jeremy Bowen’s wishful thinking:
It is hard to believe that he would want to concentrate on things like making the Palestinian finance ministry work more effectively, and creating a legal system that means people do not have to go to their clans for justice and protection, however important all those challenges are for peoples’ lives.
If he wants to make a real mark in the Middle East, Mr Blair will need to get to grips with the big, politically radioactive issues.
Bowen’s list of issues includes the future of Jerusalem, creating a sovereign Palestinian state with set borders, “ending 40 years of Israeli military occupation,” control of West Bank aquifiers, and solutions for Palestinian refugees and settlements — issues left to Rice. Blair’s mission to help the Palestinians get their house in order is admirable, thankless and quixotic enough. Raising the bar of expectations only makes it easier for the BBC to blame Israel should Blair fail.
