Israel Deserves Recognition

The Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met yesterday in a regularly scheduled meeting. During the meeting, Blair commented that Israel has not received proper recognition for her numerous actions to try and improve the Palestinian economy. Netanyahu added that the Palestinians need to increase their cooperation in order for additional achievements to be made.

Shlomo Cezana and Daniel Serioti in Israel Hayom report:

Israel doesn't get enough credit from the world for the numerous relief measures that it has made for the Palestinians, said yesterday Quartet envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair in the course of a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

In the course of the meeting Blair cited the series of relief measures that Israel recently introduced in the territories, including the removal of roadblocks and other eased restrictions that used to impede Palestinians' freedom of movement. The meeting, which was held in Jerusalem and was one of the traditional monthly meetings between the prime minister and the Quartet representative, was also attended yesterday by Regional Development Minister Silvan Shalom.

In Ha'aretz, Barak Ravid discusses Netanyahu's hopes for an improvement in Israeli-Palestinian relations:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair on Monday to discuss ways to improve the Palestinian economy. Netanyahu told Blair that the Palestinian residents of the West Bank could reach greater achievements if only they were to increase their cooperation with Israel.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement following the meeting between Netanyahu and Blair that "efforts and decisions are being made to accelerate the economic development in the area ... and to provide relief to the Palestinian residents."

Netanyahu has said he wants to shift the focus in talks with the Palestinians from tough territorial issues to a "triple track" on improving political, security and economic relations.