Source: Voice of America | By Cindy Saine
Former British Prime Minister and special Middle East envoy Tony Blair spoke to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington Thursday about the prospects for peace in the region. Mr. Blair spoke just days ahead of a closely-watched visit to the White House Monday by new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tony Blair spoke to the Senate in his role as the envoy for the Quartet of Middle East mediators. The former prime minister was strongly optimistic, saying he believes this is a “moment of opportunity” for all of those who support a “two-state solution”, of an Israeli state and a Palestinian state co-existing as peaceful neighbors.
“President Obama has made it very clear that this is a strategic priority for the United States to advance towards a negotiated two-state solution,” said Tony Blair. “This is an issue that Secretary of State Clinton is very familiar with and understands and knows deeply.”
Mr. Blair acknowledged the formidable obstacles to a negotiated settlement, including internal Palestinian divisions and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements into areas the Palestinians want to include in their state. He called on both sides to show by their actions that they want to take advantage of what he described as a “window of opportunity” to get back on a path towards peace by the end of this year.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Democrat John Kerry agreed that all the parties need to seize the moment, saying most Arab states have now agreed to recognize the existence of Israel and to the principle of land for peace.
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