Tony Blair has been excluded from a central role on a Gaza peace initiative because of his involvement in the 2003 Iraq war, as reported.
The former UK prime minister was previously associated with a reconstruction plan for the Palestinian territory put forward by Donald Trump last September.
However, the 72-year-old has encountered strong opposition from Middle Eastern officials, who remain deeply critical of his choice to commit Britain to the American-led war that removed dictator Saddam Hussein.
“I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody,” Trump said at the time, adding: “I want to find out that Tony would be popular with all because I just don’t know that.”
An insider indicated to the Financial Times that Blair might still be involved in some form, but not in a primary position on the peace council.
“The Americans like him and the Israelis like him”, but Arab and Muslim leaders in the region have reservations, the source suggested.
It is not known exactly which figures objected to his potential appointment. Earlier this year, there was significant public and political anger in Egypt at the mere idea of him visiting the country, much less playing a part in Gaza’s governance.
Kamal Abu Eita, a former Egyptian minister, told The New Arab: “We do not trust Blair at the personal level, a man who is strongly connected with colonial heritage. Egyptians are opposed to all forms of occupation of Gaza, a territory that has to be ruled by its own people only.”
Potential supporting nations have also kept their distance. The United Arab Emirates, which reportedly previously hired the ex-PM as an advisor during his time as a regional peace envoy, has currently declined to participate in a force to stabilise Gaza.
Blair continues to be a divisive figure domestically and in the Arab world over Britain’s participation in the war to remove Hussein.
Mass demonstrations took place in London, Amman, Beirut, and Cairo in 2003 against UK involvement, as his domestic approval ratings fell severely.
The subsequent official inquiry into the war found that Blair had exaggerated the danger from Hussein, and that military action was not the “last resort” as had been claimed, further damaging his reputation.
