Blair: 'There is no alternative to a two-state solution'

The two-state solution is the only viable option, said Quartet envoy Tony Blair in Brussels on Wednesday, a day after Benjamin Netanyahu's new government of was sworn in.

"There is no alternative to a two-state solution, except the one-state solution. And if there is a one-state solution, there's going to be a big fight," Blair said after a meeting with European Union officials in Brussels.

Blair, who spearheads efforts to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on behalf of the Mideast Quartet of the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the U.S., was responding to concerns that Netanyahu may oppose granting Palestinians their own state.

"I think that once the new [Israeli] government settles in...we can get credible political negotiations going, because that is the only way we are going to achieve results," Blair said.

The former British premier said the next six months would be "critical" for the Mideast peace process.

"I do believe that if there is no significant progress in 2009, we face a situation of great jeopardy for the peace process," he said.

Blair said the three priorities for the coming months should be "credible negotiations" on a two-state solution, change in the way the West Bank is administered by Palestinians, and the lifting of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The EU's external affairs commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, also called for the re-opening of the Gaza border crossings, so allowing European aid to reach Palestinians.

The commissioner also called on the Netanyahu government to commit itself to a two-state solution for the Middle East.The new Israeli premier Wednesday vowed to work toward a comprehensive peace with the Arab and Muslim world.

But he did not speak of a two-state solution, which would see a Palestinian state created alongside Israel.

	Middle East Envoy Tony Blair and PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
	Photo by: ( Lior Mizrahi)