• Published 00:00 28.07.07
  • Latest update 00:00 28.07.07

Report: British PM Brown to appoint envoy to the Mideast

As Blair steps in as Quartet's envoy, the British paper reports Michael Williams to be tapped U.K.'s representative.

By Reuters and Haaretz Service

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is appointing an envoy to the Middle East, just weeks after the international Quartet of Mideast mediators gave his predecessor Tony Blair the same job, the British newspaper The Guardian reported Saturday.

Hours after Blair stepped down as prime minister on June 27, the Quartet - comprised of the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Russia - appointed him with a mandate to focus on mobilizing international support and assistance for the Palestinians. The Guardian report came just days after Blair made his maiden visit as envoy to the region.

According to the report, Brown will appoint to the new post Michael Williams, who currently serves as United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy to the region.

The newspaper did not specify what the nature of Williams' role in the region would be, or whether he and Blair would be expected to work together.

The report did suggest, however, that if Williams focused on economic development, which is Blair's explicit mandate, tensions may arise.

"If he works on the economic road map, Williams will be playing on the same pitch as Blair, and Blair is a bigger and a better player," a diplomat was quoted in The Guardian as saying.

While Blair has been officially entrusted to help the Palestinians build institutions that will increase the viability of a future state, he is expected to stray from the mandate and use his political and diplomatic clout to further peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Blair and Brown, his long-serving finance minister, had a tense relationship during their decade as the most powerful men in the British government.

The Quartet's envoy to the Middle East, Tony Blair (R), with President Shimon Peres at a press conference on Tuesday in Jerusalem. (AP)

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  • 20. 0 0
    To alex #19 - Dont blame the British
    • Dagma
    • 29.07.07
    • 09:28

    Again, don't blame the British... blame the 'Minority'{!} who in fact have the power in their hands. They rule, they manipulate, they conquer. No more the Churchills, Nelsons or Wellingtons. What we have today are the followers of the Livingstons and the Galloways. A pity for those lovely green pastures.....

  • 19. 0 0
    #17 Mary
    • alex
    • 29.07.07
    • 03:18

    Wonderful absolutely wonderful. You are SO right; the whole trouble is because of British not only in ISRAEL but ENTIER WOPRD. Every place you see the footage of those B. British, there is problem, and remember DIANA God save us from them.

  • 18. 0 0
    Report: British PM Brown to appoint envoy to the Mideast
    • alex
    • 29.07.07
    • 03:11

    SO from now on every country allow them self to set up envoy to ISRAEL. Then if we say something bad about them, they complain we interfere with their internal affair. Now this Williams is noting but anti Jewish, we should not allow him to put a foot in Israel.

  • 17. 0 0
    What is it with the British Gov.
    • Mary
    • 29.07.07
    • 01:51

    One British envoy is not enough to destroy what's left in the M.E. The whole middleeast problem was created under British mandate.

  • 16. 0 0
    Gordon Brown's envoy to Mideast
    • OJB
    • 29.07.07
    • 01:43

    Anat: why don't you learn something about the British Trade Unions, they have nothing like the power they used to have. The so-called boycotts are put forward by a tiny bunch of activists at their conferences and are totally ignored by their members. The British unions are amateurs. If you want to see union power, look no further than Israel. When they go on strike, the lot goes on strike. Seaports, airports, banks and the main public transport sevices. In fact most of the supermarkets are shut because they are owned by the union and there are even main roads called Histadrut.

  • 15. 0 0
    Another Anti Israel Envoy Into the Stew
    • ralphsrant1
    • 28.07.07
    • 23:26

    Another Anti Israel Envoy stirring the Stew http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com/

  • 14. 0 0
    To rob # 10
    • Dagma
    • 28.07.07
    • 23:14

    Quoting you: "The idea that somehow this ancient land has always belonged to the 'Palestinians' who in history have never existed as a nation is simply absurd" Indeed, it is true, but try telling these Arabs this,they will always argue with you, somuchso that even the rest of the world has accepted the fact that they need a state of their own which is in fact to be called 'Palestine'. These Arabs are of course the displaced and homeless refugees from Arab/Iraeli wars and should by rights build their 23rd Arab State in their own vast lands and not in the small minuscule territory belonging to Israel. Gordon Brown knowsthis because he is the son of an Evangelical Christian and used tovisit Israel oftenwith his father when a boy.

  • 13. 0 0
    We need Moshe Feiglin as PM NOW!!!
    • Israeli
    • 28.07.07
    • 23:13

    This is more nonsense. Aside from the fact Oslo was carried out illegally and disgustingly, it has failed miserably like every other "peace initiative", taking thousands of lives. The "Palestinian Liberation Organization" was founded before '67 with the intentions of destroying ALL of Israel G-d forbid. Enough lies, enough corrupt and G-dless leaders who believe in the justice of the Arab cause more than they believe in the Jewish cause. It's time for a leader who believes in the justice of OUR cause, and not the Arabs. It's time for a leader who properly assesses the enemy and beats him. We don't to give them anything, nor do we want anything from them. We want to beat them! It's time for a leader with a G-d, the G-d of the Jews! We want Moshe Feiglin as PM of Israel and we want him NOW!!

  • 12. 0 0
    Abbas represents the Palestinians as Pahlavi represented Iranians
    • Rachel C.
    • 28.07.07
    • 23:11

    Rice, are you that clueless?

  • 11. 0 0
    Britain will have no say in events here if its unions continue to
    • Anat
    • 28.07.07
    • 20:51

    boycott the Jewish state of Israel. Perhaps those unions should take note of it, unless they want their country and their members to be marginalized.

  • 10. 0 0
    # 5 which Bible atlases have you read?
    • rob
    • 28.07.07
    • 20:04

    Its beyond historical and archeological doubt that Israel as a nation entered Canaan almost 3,000 years ago and that the West Bank is an integral part of ancient Israel. Not only that but the land of Israel is uniquely the God of Israel's land that He has "loaned" to the Jews. The idea that somehow this ancient land has always belonged to the "Palestinians" who in history have never existed as a nation is simply absurd.

  • 9. 0 0
    To Brod # 1 - All is forgtten
    • Natasha
    • 28.07.07
    • 19:47

    Your comments are Facts which are hardly likely to be appreciated among many in Britain today, now imbued with Islam and thus with antisemitism against Jews on the rise. Have they forgotten "Ancient History, Biblical Truth and Biblical Archeology that Israel including Judea and Samaria are God-given Homelands for the Jews ever since 4000 years ago"? quoted from you. Yes, it seems they have and on the other hand giving all credence to the falsehoods routinely preached at mosques throughout Britain. Tony Blair and/or Gordon Brown's envoy will only be a help to the Palestinians to fulfil their mission in getting them their 23rd Arab State while Israel on the other hand will be - lost.

  • 8. 0 0
    Gordon Brown's Envoy to Mideast
    • Dagma
    • 28.07.07
    • 18:53

    It is clear that rife anti-semitism is on the rise in Britain especially after the airing of the TV Documentary 'The War on Britain's Jews' by journalist Richard Littlejohn on July 14th. Whether PM Brown's appointment of an envoy to the Mideast will help in this delicate but dangerous issue is the question. However, if there is anything which can be done to stem the violent upsurge of anti-semitism in Britain, it would be welcome although it may be 'a little too late'.

  • 7. 0 0
    This appears to be a slap in the face for Blair,but then this guy
    • lakshmi
    • 28.07.07
    • 18:12

    is shameless.He can redeem himself if he detaches himself from his master and at least work his side of the job with some integrity.Somehow,I doubt this will happen but anything is possible and we'll have to wait and see.However,the Arab Initiative has to be fast forwarded and here blair's smooth talking won't avail.

  • 6. 0 0
    brown
    • DOV KORET
    • 28.07.07
    • 18:09

    Hey brown: how about galloway or livingstone?? they should be well received by your pro-terror government. DK

  • 5. 0 0
    1.Brod,I too have read Bible atlases and they tell a different
    • lakshmi
    • 28.07.07
    • 18:09

    story of the ancient Middle East.As for the Arab menace since the 7th century haven't you forgotten the Crusades,the horrific colonial consquests and the contemporary u.s.-israel attacks on the Muslim world?If there are 'dark forces' they are on your side of the fence.

  • 4. 0 0
    Who will pay?
    • Teacher
    • 28.07.07
    • 17:57

    US again and again some mutakaeb? Anyway, good luck!

  • 3. 0 0
    Lack of understanding of british politics
    • Chris Linthwaite
    • 28.07.07
    • 17:37

    in this article. Tony Blair is the representative of the Quartet. The Prime Minister has chosen a representative to the quartet to represent the UK's views in the quartet. Tony Blair is employed to represent the views of this quartet. As for our Prime minister Gordon Brown is now in charge. Tony Blair does not even get a car from the government.

  • 2. 0 0
    It is clear Brown does not trust the poodle
    • Mark Lincoln
    • 28.07.07
    • 17:19

    What a vote of no confidence by Blair's successor. The First Poodle should do the decent thing - for the first time in his life - and quit.

  • 1. 0 0
    Brown's envoy
    • Brod
    • 28.07.07
    • 13:52

    With this, Blair should quit. In fact all these intrusions on Israel's internal affairs by manipulated external entities should stop. It is none of their business to help the Islamist-Jihadists to usurp Israel from the Jews. Israel should say NO to all these craps and external interferences on its internal affairs. What makes the world be manipulated by the dark forces who have been terrorizing the non-Islamist world since their emergence in the Arabian Desert in the 7th century? The Quartet will do well helping Israel confront the menace of Islamist-Jihadism/Terrorism instead of being deceived, fooled and manipulated by the dark forces. Have they forgotten Ancient History, Biblical Truth and Biblical Archaeology that Israel including Judea and Samaria are GOD-given homeland for the Jews since 4000 years ago from the time of Israel's forefathers-Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? They should READ "Holman QuickSource BIBLE ATLAS WITH CHARTS AND BIBLICAL RECONSTRUCTIONS" [2005] (398 pages).