Plan would make Blair envoy to Palestinians

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration is laying the groundwork for an announcement of Tony Blair as special Middle East envoy for Palestinian governance and economic issues after he steps down as Britain’s prime minister, following two months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, according to U.S. officials.

Blair would report to the so-called Quartet overseeing Middle East peace efforts – the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia – and focus on issues limited to the internal workings of a future Palestinian state. Political negotiations involving Palestinians, Israelis and the Arab states would be left to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the officials said.

The idea, first proposed by Rice, was embraced by the Israeli government during talks between President Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this week.

“We believe Blair can make a very positive contribution to the peace process,” Israeli Embassy spokesman David Siegel said Wednesday.

The Palestinians have yet to be approached on the possibility, but U.S. officials believe they would welcome a Blair appointment. Among Palestinians, Blair is known to have a good working relationship with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and President Mahmoud Abbas, but is considered strongly pro-Israel and is closely associated with Bush administration Middle East policies, according to Palestinian analysts.

The administration also still has to win formal support for Blair from the Russians, according to U.S. officials, who said the news began to leak about Blair’s potential appointment before consultations were complete. Whatever the possible reservations, however, U.S. officials do not expect anyone to block an appointment.

U.S. officials said the appointment could be made within the next few weeks.