Tony Blair on Middle East Progress

The Middle East Bulletin published an interview today with Quartet Representative (and former British Prime Minister) Tony Blair. Below are some of his remarks on the challenges and possibilities in Middle East peace making.

On the challenges of building confidence in the peace process:

...It is entirely understandable given recent history that confidence in the peace process is low, even at the time when both peoples still continue to support a two-state solution. They want peace, but they have become pessimistic that it is possible. That’s why we need to see transformative change of the facts on the ground in the West Bank so that Palestinians can see an improvement in their daily lives and the weight of occupation can be lifted, at the same time as the Palestinian Authority continues to reform and improve their security capacity so that Israelis can feel secure.

On the progress he's seen since his appointment:

The economy is now improving significantly in the West Bank with official statistics estimating seven percent growth for this year and unofficial Palestinian estimates in double digits. Palestinians are now able to move throughout the West Bank in ways impossible when we started pushing for changes in the access and movement regime. Moreover, trade between Israel and the West Bank has increased significantly, producing a significant economic bounce to the West Bank.

...The team that I head works to make changes on the ground in small ways on a daily basis, the aggregate of which is leading to a perceptible difference that most people now recognize.

On ways to sustain progress for the future:

...We need to look to make further changes to the access and movement regime in the West Bank, so we can further improve the ability of Palestinians to move around and do business. A significant boost could come from allowing Palestinian use and development of the so-called “Area C,” where Israel currently maintains sole security and administrative control. This land makes up some 60 percent of the West Bank. Much more needs to be done for people to believe that they are on an inexorable road to peace, and a political process is necessary to ensure that the economic gains are enshrined and continue.

On the potential points of progress:

There is an ambitious but deliverable agenda ahead, on each of the political, economic and security tracks. The political negotiations need to resume as soon as possible—the U.S. administration is exerting every effort on this... Palestinian security and wider rule of law capability continues to strengthen, day by day. Prime Minister Fayyad’s two-year plan for state building contains excellent proposals, on which Israel and the international community can engage.

Read the interview in full here.