By STEVEN ERLANGER
May 27, 2015
LONDON — Tony Blair, former prime minister of Britain, will resign as special Middle East envoy at the end of June, he informed the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, in a letter, diplomats said Wednesday.
Mr. Blair took the job in 2007, representing the Middle East “quartet” of the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union. But he made little progress toward a lasting peace in the region. Though Mr. Blair tried to promote investment in the West Bank, many Palestinians felt he was too close to the Israelis, while the Israelis felt he did not spend enough time in the region to make a lasting difference.
With prospects for peace looking ever dimmer, and the quartet largely inactive, Mr. Blair made it known earlier this year that he would step down. His office said he would continue efforts to smooth relations between Israel and the Arab world.
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(via NY Times)
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