3 hours agoTony Blair “can lead Gaza”, according to Kosovo model
Periskopi(9 months ago)
(9 months ago)Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has offered to take over Gaza's provisional direction after the war ended between Israel and Hamas. According to international media, Blair has already prepared a plan through his institute, “Tory Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI)”, for post-war management. One of the options under consideration is creation [...]
According to international media, Blair has already prepared a plan through his institute, “Tory Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI)”, for post-war management.
One of the options under consideration is the creation of a transitional international administration similar to that implemented in Kosovo after 1999. This model envisions the gradual transition of power to local institutions, in this case the Palestinian Authority (AP), after it has been reformed.
By “The Guardian”, Blair has proposed the leadership of a provisional administration in Gaza, which would later hand over power to the AP, broadcast Telegrafi.
His proposal has received the support of some close figures with US President Donald Trump, including his son-in-law, Jared Kouchner, and emissar Steve Whitkoff. At a meeting at the White House on August 27th, they have presented Trump with the idea of Blair's involvement in this role.
Blair, who formerly served as the Special Emissar of the Middle East Quartet ( The UN, the US, the EU and Russia), is willing to sacrifice “the time” to contribute to the end of the conflict and the construction of peace in Gaza, according to sources for the “The Economist”. Trump has supported the plan and presented it in talks with leaders from Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia and five Arab states at the UN.
Blair's plan envisions the creation of a structure called “The International Casider for Gas (GITA)”, which would be deployed by the UN and would operate for several years. This body would have supreme political and legal authority during the transition and would include Palestinian representatives, UN officials, economic experts and representatives from Muslim states.
In this plan, Gaza and the West Coast would be reunited, with the goal of finally passing the Palestinian Authority with support from Saudi Arabia, which the US views as key to the success of the project. Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has demanded that any postwar solution lead to the creation of a Palestinian state, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyyahu has rejected.
According to surveys conducted by TBI, more than 25 percent of Palestinians in Gaza prefer international involvement in government, while a third support the return of the Palestinian Authority.
President Mahmoud Abbas has declared that his administration is willing to assume responsibility for security and governance in Gaza, without Hamas' involvement. However, Hamas wants to have a non-military role, including in the education sector.
On the other hand, Israel has refused to have an AP role in Gaza, but has engaged “constructively” for review of international plans. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has suggested that Gaza could turn into an economic development area and has declared talks with the US on dividing territory are under way.
Blair's experience in post-conflict regions, such as Kosovo and the Middle East, is seen as a priority in the effort. He has been one of the biggest supporters of NATO interventions in Kosovo and has visited the country several times after the war.
