Blair: Hamas should recognize Israel

[TriWooOx]

Quote:Middle East peace envoy Tony Blair says the Gaza ruler, the Hamas movement, would be included in peace talks only if it recognizes Israel.

The Quartet believes the way to end the conflict is formation of a "Palestinian state coexisting peacefully alongside a secure Israel".

Hamas, the democratically-elected governor of the Gaza Strip, has accepted a two-state solution but refuses to recognize Israel.

"The Quartet has always said it is prepared to talk to Hamas provided that Hamas is part of a government that is on terms that are consistent with the two-state solution," former British PM told reporters in Abu Dhabi.

"The issue is not whether we talk to Hamas or not. The issue is whether there is a basis for talking that allows us to make progress on the two-state solution," Blair was quoted by AFP as saying.

A new initiative for peace in the Middle East is expected to be taken by the Quartet in the aftermath of Israel's 23-day aggression against Gaza. The conflict left at least 1,340 Palestinians dead and wounded thousands others.

The diplomatic Quartet -- made up of the United Nations, US, Russia and European Union -- was established in Madrid in 2002 by the Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, as a result of the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Tony Blair is the Quartet's current Special Envoy.

Blair, the Middle East Quartet envoy, has been strongly criticized for not condemning Israel for its actions in Gaza.

Blair supported formation of Palestinian national unity government -- proposed by acting PA chief Mahmud Abbas -- saying such unity should result in recognition of 'state of Israel' by Hamas.

"We all want Palestinian unity, including with Hamas, but it has to be on the right terms. It has got to be on terms consistent with the two-state solution. That is the issue now," Blair said.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=83189...ionid=351020202

[mexika]

We are fuked. The world has turned to crap with this corrupted so called leaders who based everthing with power, money, and assassinations. The old king and queen European way...