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LONDON, May 8 (KUNA) -- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said
Thursday the Middle East peace process needs to move faster if there is to be
any chance of an agreement this year.
In an exclusive interview with the satellite TV station 'Sky News' in the
West Bank town of Jenin, Blair also said Israel must do more to lift
restrictions on the Palestinians to improve their economy.
For almost a year the former British Premier has pursued his mission as the
Quartets Middle East Envoy, working towards building the foundations of a
Palestinian state, but he said more needs to be done and more quickly.
His team has asked the Israelis to dismantle 12 checkpoints for instance,
but only one has been removed.
"There are a whole set of proposals that we have put to the Israelis and
actually the next few weeks will be critical on delivering those, and yes,
removing one is not enough", he said.
Palestinians are making progress, he believes, and so are countries
supporting them with money, and there are signs the Israelis are seeing how
they can help.
"But what is necessary is for Palestinians to be able to move relatively
freely around their own territory. That is what they cannot do now", he added.
Blair said he is committed to seeing his job through.
The former British Prime Minister rarely gives interviews and would not be
drawn on domestic politics and the performance of his party in recent local
elections.
The peace process, launched with much fanfare by Israelis, Palestinians and
the Bush administration in Annapolis, in the US, last November, is meant to
deliver an agreement by the end of the year, but there is little sign of
progress, Sky News said.
Blairs team said the coming weeks will be make or break for its chances.
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