Middle East mediators held talks on Tuesday that could clear the way for the appointment of Tony Blair as their envoy to try to revive peace prospects after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.
Blair, who steps down as Britain's Prime Minister on Wednesday, said in London that he was prepared to help bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but he offered no details about his future role.Diplomats close to the so-called Quartet powers -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- said Blair was likely to be named to the top peacemaking position soon.
However, Hamas said Blair was not welcome because of his role in supporting US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Washington and its European and Arab allies have stepped up pressure on Israel to jumpstart talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the Fatah faction, following Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza nearly two weeks ago.
Israeli officials said they were considering a new request from Abbas to bring a Jordan-based Fatah force known as the Badr Brigade into the West Bank to try to shore up his control.
"It is being evaluated and a decision will be made soon," a senior Israeli government official said.
Representatives from the Quartet met at the US Consulate in Jerusalem, seeking to define the mandate for their new envoy.
The meeting ended with no public announcements.
Washington has confirmed the Quartet was discussing the appointment of an envoy to help Abbas build up the institutions of a future Palestinian state and carry out political and economic reforms. - DDNEWS India
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