Palestinian calls Blair 'terrorist' during visit to Hebron mosque
Mideast envoy's guards back protester into corner, as man shouts 'Blair not welcome in Palestine.'
By Reuters Tags: Tony Blair Middle East peace Israel news PalestiniansBodyguards subdued a Palestinian man on Tuesday as he approached Middle East envoy Tony Blair, shouting "You are a terrorist."
The former British prime minister was verbally assailed while visiting an ancient mosque during an official trip to the West Bank city of Hebron.
The protester, carrying a bag, was backed into a corner by guards who tried to shut him up. "He is not welcome in the land of Palestine," the struggling man shouted.
Blair, 56, is envoy for the Quartet of powers on the Middle East, comprising the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations.
He gave a tight-lipped smile and a pacifying wave in the general direction of the shouting man, and afterwards played down the incident as not typical of local feelings.
Most Palestinians and Israelis want the conflict "resolved in a peaceful way", he said. They understand "it's not going to be resolved unless we find a way of creating two states, a state of Israel and a state of Palestine side by side in peace."
"Frankly it's not protests that will do that. It's patient negotiation," Blair told reporters.
His Hebron hosts were upset by the security breach. Blair is despised by many Arabs for supporting the 2003 invasion of Iraq, for declining to speak out against Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah and for what they perceive as his bias in favour of Israel when he was Britain's prime minister.
"You know, he made his protest and that's fair enough," Blair told reporters once the man was removed from the mosque.
"I think it's important for you guys as well to not always mistake the protest for the general view of the whole population," he said.
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The protester was exactly correct that Tony Blair is a weak, phony lackey for Israel. He has supported all of Israel's heinous acts, including their mass murder against Lebanese civilians in 2006 and their war crimes and state terrorism against Palestinians in Gaza earlier this year. Only by protest will the Palestinians ever be free of Israel's brutal occupation. Blair was wrong on Iraq and he is wrong on Palestine.
The protests don't reflect the wishes of the general population. That may be the Israeli perspective, and Abu Mizen might agree. But nobody's making noises about holding another election in 'palestine' are they? Strikes me that the last time, the general view of the whole population surprised everybody and elected a Hamas government.
well done Tony Blair These idiots shouldnt be allowed to blog here No respect No intelligence We should throw shoes at all of them Arabs think thats funny GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!! No respect for difference No respect for different opinions Idiotic Pals Couldnt even keep Blair safe on his walkabout He showed respect They have NO respect Dont know why he wastes his time on them
" Blair is despised by many Arabs for supporting the 2003 invasion of Iraq, for declining to speak out against Israel's 2006 war against Hezbollah and for what they perceive as his bias in favour of Israel when he was Britain's prime minister. " ...and not only by Arabs! He's loathed by many within his own country, as well as by expats like myself. I think 'terrorist' fits better than 'war criminal'. In his support of the US in Iraq, he chose to use unspeakable violence against civilians to further his ends. The only thing that differentiates 'shock and awe' from conventional terrorism is its scale. Otherwise it is the same thing. The man IS despicable.
And the land of Canaan was established thousands of year ago. By the way any information about Khazaria?
mosque? this building is the cave of machpela, bought by our father Abraham, and is the resting place of Adam, Eve, Abraham, Sara, Issac, Rivka, Jacob & Leah. A holy site for the entire Jewish nation. This building standing there today was built 2,000 years ago by King Herod, there were no Palestinians in the area back then
Is he inciting Palestinian to use violence in stead of verbal protest? MOSSAD shoule consider investigating this man!! and refer result to ICJ!!
Not everything in the world is England's fault. There are other war criminals too and some of them are Hamas.
Mr Blair is a dishonest broker. Let the Supreme Court appoint a "Goldstein" Commission to investigate the other charge.
And yet, it was only in Israel were the war in Iraq continues to have support, and it is only in Israel were George Bush remains popular... I wonder why.
hi all would you all change your openion about blair if he returns back to power
I am just wondering Milo, why you are thinking about "injustice" in faraway land of sands and rocks when Belfast is that close?
Now what exactly is your message to the Gazans? Is it: Hey, you have a state east of the Jordan. All you need is move. Or what?
Would this "Palestinian" dare call Hamas a terrorist? Or Fatah? I hope he's being taught a good lesson in the prison cells of Fatah in the West Bank. (Thanks Marcy)
when I last checked it was the Brits and Yanks invading Iraq, not Israel. So dont drag Israel into every conflict in the world. otherwise sit back relax, watch the leprechauns dance around your garden in merry olde Eire. :-)
I agree with you for just this once unfortunatley, over any other posts I refuse to discuss any matter at all with you. But hey give yourself credit, the Brits did invade Iraq and shell Basra, in addition to helping the Yanks with aerial bombardment of other cities. hope its a wonderful morning downunder :-)
.....we don't want him back,either. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
I call the last 60 year a combination of invasion of Israel, with the intent to destroy it, terrorism of the Israeli population, a refusal on the part of the Pals and their Arab allies to negotiate or even recognize Israel, with the beginnings of negotiations, over the last 20 years. In terms of this latter period, we haven't seen a willingness to commit what is apparently perceived by both sides as necessary for a deal. I won't get into my views of this last point but the main point John is that the last 50 years have not been about patient negotiation that Blair rightly states is essential. He should also have said that what is necessary is a committment to mutual compromise but that's another story.
Except that Jordan was part of Palestine until 1921 when the british occupying power gave it to the hachemite dynasty fleeing a coup in the arab peninsula, to insure an ally in the region.
...because of your support for George Bush and his war in Iraq, because of your support for Israel and its slaughters in Gaza and Lebanon in 2006, and because of your empty, self-serving efforts to exploit Palestinian suffering for the advancement of your image and career. Do everyone a favour and go home.
70% of East Palestien is pal... less then 1/3 jews live in NYC... Jews need a country not a city... Pals have a country... they dont need two.
It's not hard to find out Tony...ALL the Palestinians feel that way too. Maybe he should be EU president so he can go screw them up and stay the heck away
Being one of the three who decided to attack Iraq--makes him a war criminal just as is Bush and several Israeli politicians. To the hague with them---and let them not see the light of day for a very very long time.
Saying the Palestinians already have a state in Jordan is like asking why Jews need Israel when they already have NYC. Why can't you apply the standards you demand for yourself to others?
The notion that Bliar and his dodgy wars can be considered a peace maker is as deranged as calling Barak a peacemaker. They should be in the Hague holding hands.
History began long before WW2. the Ottomans ruled it for over 500 years, if anything, it goes back to the Turks. end of story.
Patient negotiations? What a joke what do you call the last 60 yrs
His name is Tony As young he was uncool But he always laughed at all the tough guys who ruled the school But he's a phony And I will tell you why Because his biggest wish to be the hard-knocks a lie Phony Tony's in disguise What he wants to be he will despise And he currently takes the prize But Phony Tony's no surprise Yeah little Tony grew up and finished school And what he meant to his that he is no longer a fool Phony Tony's in disguise What he used to be he now despise And he currently takes the prize But Phony Tony's no surprise Now he's a big man And he's far away from school Now he's the one who's bullying others calling them fools He's no longer a fool He's far away from school Tony went cool Phony Tony's in disguise Phony Tony's no surprise Phony Tony takes the prize But phony Tony will capsize [ Phony Tony Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]
The Americans gave east palestien(jordan) to the hashemites(saudi arabians)for thier support in WWI... Blair says there is only a two state solution... well... there are already two states... why do the pals need two states?