Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will not get a key role in Donald Trump’s Gaza “peace council” after several Arab and Muslim nations reportedly objected to his inclusion, according to reports.
Blair was quietly dropped from consideration of a proposed advisory group, or “peace commission”, which Trump said he would chair himself, according to The Financial Times (FT).
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Blair was the only name publicly mentioned for a possible role on the council when President Trump announced his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas in September. President Trump praised Blair as “a very good person”.
But a month later, Trump said, “I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice for everybody.”
Why did Blair provoke reactions from the Arab world?
However, Blair’s name for the role prompted reactions from Arab and Muslim countries.
While Blair’s supporters said he helped end years of conflict in Northern Ireland, his critics said he did very little in his role as representative of the “Quartet” – the UN, the EU, the US and Russia – which The Guardian reported was supposed to promote peace in the Middle East.
Many in the Arab world view Blair with suspicion and anger because of his support for the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
News of Blair’s withdrawal comes despite claims he had a private meeting with an Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the end of November to discuss the plans, according to the report in The Times of Israel.
He could play a “less central” role
Financial Times The report, citing sources, suggests that Blair could still play a less central role in the proposed plan. Blair’s office has yet to comment on the reports.
In another message, Jared KushnerDonald Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser, and Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East, will help oversee post-war Gaza. The two men helped negotiate the recent ceasefire and will now take on key roles in rebuilding the territory, according to the report.
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Under the US plan, which Trump is expected to announce before Christmas, Kushner and Witkoff would be on the executive board of a board that will oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, according to The Telegraph. The council will be chaired by Trump and will include Arab and European leaders, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
What is Trump’s Gaza “Peace Council”?
In September, US President Donald Trump unveiled this 20-point peace plan for Gaza, calling for the creation of an international monitoring body to call it “plate of peace‘.
Trump made the announcement at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, saying he and Blair would lead the watchdog.
The “Peace Commission,” also called the “Peace Council,” is part of Trump’s plan and is meant to be international transit authority govern and rebuild Gaza after the war. Under the plan, a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian Committee would be in charge of the day-to-day administration of Gaza, while the Peace Council would oversee funding, reconstruction, security and administration until a Palestinian government is ready to take over.
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last month, United Nations Security Council voted 13-0 to support President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza peace.
I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out he’s an acceptable choice for everyone.
Trump’s Gaza “peace council” – also contributed to by Tony Blair’s Institute for Global Change (TGI) – has also faced criticism for failing to provide a clear timetable for the creation of a Palestinian state. He also suggested that Gaza should be governed by a different system than the West Bank, raising concerns that the two Palestinian regions would no longer be seen as one unified entity.
