Tony Blair’s time as Middle East envoy representing the US, Russia, the UN and the EU finally came to an end yesterday. Eight years after he took up the role, Blair reportedly tendered his resignation and left one question: How come he became a “peace envoy” in the first place?
The people of the Middle East – and much of the world – have been asking this question ever since Blair was appointed the Quartet’s man in Jerusalem, solemnly and hopelessly tasked to bring “peace” between Israelis and Palestinians.
Was his new mission supposed to wash the blood from his hands after the catastrophe of the Bush-Blair invasion of Iraq and the hundreds of thousands of innocents who died as a result?
For Arabs – and for Britons who lost their loved ones in his shambolic war in Iraq – Blair’s appointment was an insult.
Read: Israel angry at Blair’s insistence on ME peace
The man who never said he was sorry for his political disaster in Iraq simply turned up in Jerusalem four years later and, with a team which spent millions in accommodation and air fares, managed to accomplish absolutely nothing in the near-decade that followed.
Blair appeared indifferent to the massive suffering of the Palestinians – he was clearly impotent in preventing it – and spent much of his time away from the tragedy of the Middle East, advising the great and the good and a clutch of Muslim dictators, and telling the world – to Israel’s satisfaction – of the dangers represented by Iran.
The more prescient he thought he was, the more irrelevant he became in the eyes of the region he was sent to protect. A Blair supporter once defended him on Channel 4 by recalling how he had travelled to the Middle East almost 100 times – without realising the essential irony: that Blair abandoned the region almost 100 times for more rewarding destinations.Blair was supposed to produce more than the easy panaceas that slipped from his lips, the most outrageous of which was his contention that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could be easier that ending the Northern Ireland crisis. But the Palestinians have much more in common with the Irish Catholics cleansed from their lands by the Protestant planters of the 17th century than with the pitiful historical battle in the province, whose resolution proved to be Blair’s only lasting accomplishment.
If only he had resigned more than two years ago after Palestinian leaders had themselves characterised his job as “useless, useless, useless”. Israel, of course, would never have described him as this. Stoutly condemning the campaign for Israel’s “delegitimisation”, Blair talked about this as a form of bias which was “an affront to humanity” – a choice of words he never used about the massive civilian casualties inflicted by Israel on the Palestinians of Gaza.
The Arabs will now wait to see if the Quartet will repeat its folly by appointing an even more unsuitable candidate – a truly difficult task – although many in the region think the whole panjandrum must be abandoned.
Eight years ago, there just might have been the slimmest chance of bringing a Palestinian state into being. Today there is none.
By arrangement with The Independent.
Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2015
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Comments (25) Closed
Good riddance. In a fair world this so called peace envoy should be facing criminal charges for his role in the Iraq war which killed and displaced hundreds of thousands innocent people.
So true! He just tried to wash his hands off! He's one of the biggest hypocrite Along few other leaders from his time from other nations!
It being an issue between two rights,probably there is no solution to it.To some I may look like a cynic but this what it is.
I couldn't agree more with the writer.
Excellent piece from the pen of Mr. Fisk. Tony Blair was a real insult to the millions who lost live, homes and dignity. Tony was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He called himself liberal, got elected with liberal votes and then did everything to appease right wing Washingtonians and fundamentalist Israelis. He is up there with many other in dark side of the history.
These leaders wants to be in power in any shape or form. Israel has become burden for West and the sooner they dump this State than we have a peace in the world.
Complete eyewash Mr.Blair has to justify Iraq invasion as a leading ally of the allied forces.
I agree with every sentence except for the last one. Today, more than ever, there is a hope of creation of Palestinian state as many western countries have started to recognize Palestine as a state. If only US would stop blocking the resolution in UN by using her veto, a two state solution is very much possible.
most obvious war criminal in the recent history
People talk about Bin Laden But Never notice the atrocities committed by Bush & Blair Administration on People of Iraq. Iraq was a better place before "Bush&Blair" Happened.
A failed peace broker, partially responsible for killing of thousands in an ill informed Iraq War.Let the history judge his actions in this context.
Spot on Robert !!!
@Rabz
Blair was informed in advance of George W. Bush's up coming second attack on Baghdad and invasion of Iraq in 2003, but he denied it. He was too close to Washington money.
Only Robert Fisk can write such truth.
Thank you Mr Fisk for keeping your intellectual honesty and neutrality intact.
Tony Blair is still adamant to this day that he was justified in attacking Iraq even when it was proved that their intelligence was wrong that Saddam Hussein had WMD's. Many including Boris Johnson criticise him on his stance.
Why was he appointed in the first place? Because it suited the "West". After all, there is certainly no democracy in the UN & these are the very countries that run it!
Mr. Blair made millions from this job just for supporting US in Afghan and other wars.
No wonder why labour in UK is still paying the high price of his stupidness. The lost election was the worst in the history of Labour-UK. No wonder why he was stamped as Bush's toddler in the west.
Tony Blair and Bush will be remembered when ever history students read the Hitler page. Ofcourse, all three are on the same page
I'm glad that somebody has the guts to call a spade, a spade. Blair-Bush were modern day Hitlers for the ME, which lie in tatters now with no end in sight.
He might be useless but his job was to bring peace in the region not bringing a Palestinian state into being as is claimed by the writer. If you were expecting that from him, its a big delusion.
Tony Blair is still adamant to this day that he was justified in attacking Iraq even when it was proved that their intelligence was wrong that Saddam Hussein had WMD's. Many including Boris Johnson criticise him on his stance.
Excellent article. Reminds all of us of George Galloway who had been relentlessly campaigning for the axing of killer Blair and to be tried in ICJ for the war crimes committed in Iraq.
@tina - Bringing "peace" and a Palestinian state, are they not related? Did you think of "peace" when they created state of Israel?
Tony Blair and George Bush should have been charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Comments (25) Closed
Good riddance. In a fair world this so called peace envoy should be facing criminal charges for his role in the Iraq war which killed and displaced hundreds of thousands innocent people.
So true! He just tried to wash his hands off! He's one of the biggest hypocrite Along few other leaders from his time from other nations!
It being an issue between two rights,probably there is no solution to it.To some I may look like a cynic but this what it is.
I couldn't agree more with the writer.
Excellent piece from the pen of Mr. Fisk. Tony Blair was a real insult to the millions who lost live, homes and dignity. Tony was a wolf in sheep's clothing. He called himself liberal, got elected with liberal votes and then did everything to appease right wing Washingtonians and fundamentalist Israelis. He is up there with many other in dark side of the history.
These leaders wants to be in power in any shape or form. Israel has become burden for West and the sooner they dump this State than we have a peace in the world.
Complete eyewash Mr.Blair has to justify Iraq invasion as a leading ally of the allied forces.
I agree with every sentence except for the last one. Today, more than ever, there is a hope of creation of Palestinian state as many western countries have started to recognize Palestine as a state. If only US would stop blocking the resolution in UN by using her veto, a two state solution is very much possible.
most obvious war criminal in the recent history
People talk about Bin Laden But Never notice the atrocities committed by Bush & Blair Administration on People of Iraq. Iraq was a better place before "Bush&Blair" Happened.
A failed peace broker, partially responsible for killing of thousands in an ill informed Iraq War.Let the history judge his actions in this context.
Spot on Robert !!!
@Rabz
Only Robert Fisk can write such truth.
Thank you Mr Fisk for keeping your intellectual honesty and neutrality intact.
Tony Blair is still adamant to this day that he was justified in attacking Iraq even when it was proved that their intelligence was wrong that Saddam Hussein had WMD's. Many including Boris Johnson criticise him on his stance.
Why was he appointed in the first place? Because it suited the "West". After all, there is certainly no democracy in the UN & these are the very countries that run it!
Mr. Blair made millions from this job just for supporting US in Afghan and other wars.
No wonder why labour in UK is still paying the high price of his stupidness. The lost election was the worst in the history of Labour-UK. No wonder why he was stamped as Bush's toddler in the west.
Tony Blair and Bush will be remembered when ever history students read the Hitler page. Ofcourse, all three are on the same page
I'm glad that somebody has the guts to call a spade, a spade. Blair-Bush were modern day Hitlers for the ME, which lie in tatters now with no end in sight.
He might be useless but his job was to bring peace in the region not bringing a Palestinian state into being as is claimed by the writer. If you were expecting that from him, its a big delusion.
Tony Blair is still adamant to this day that he was justified in attacking Iraq even when it was proved that their intelligence was wrong that Saddam Hussein had WMD's. Many including Boris Johnson criticise him on his stance.
Excellent article. Reminds all of us of George Galloway who had been relentlessly campaigning for the axing of killer Blair and to be tried in ICJ for the war crimes committed in Iraq.
@tina - Bringing "peace" and a Palestinian state, are they not related? Did you think of "peace" when they created state of Israel?
Tony Blair and George Bush should have been charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity.