LONDON: Tony Blair, Britain’s former prime minister whose legacy was heavily tarnished by the 2003 war in Iraq, has long been a contentious figure in the Middle East and beyond.
His potentially leading role in Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza will likely do little to change that.
Blair, 72, who is set to sit on the board of a proposed international transitional authority in the Palestinian territory, is credited with crafting the US leader’s plan alongside Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner.
Blair brings a wealth of experience after spending eight years as the envoy for the Middle East Quartet of the European Union, United Nations, United States and Russia.
Savvy and confident, he will be seen as bringing heft to any leadership role in Gaza.
Critics argue he achieved little as envoy and that he is ill-suited to play peacemaker, as he is reviled by many Arabs and discredited in Britain for joining the US-led invasion of Iraq.
“His reputation, of course, is mired by his involvement in the Iraq war,” Sanam Vakil, Middle East program director at the Chatham House think tank, told AFP.
But “he is trusted by leaders in the Gulf ... (who) see him as a potential bridge-builder candidate,” she added.
In Gaza, Hani Saad, 41, who lives in a tent at a school for displaced people in the Shujaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, told AFP the main thing was to “end the fighting.”
“You know Blair is known for lying and only serving Israel and his own interests,” he said, but added he was “welcome” if he can end the conflict.
Hiam Wafi, 30, who lives
near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, said the UK politician would be “acceptable to Israel, the US and the international community.”
“He has relationships with other countries and can mobilize political and financial support.”
Blair, a skilled communicator, has maintained an informal regional role through his institute and consultancy roles.
He contributed to the 2020 historic Abraham Accords brokered during the first Trump presidency, which normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, according to his office.
Israel appears to welcome his possible new role, with Blair said to enjoy a good rapport with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“He has always had a corner of his heart devoted to the unfinished project of calming down this conflict,” Ehud Barak, former Israeli premier, told the Washington Post.
The Palestinians seem less enthusiastic.
“That is the most horrible idea,” Mustafa Barghuti, head of the Palestinian National Initiative, told CNN.
“To bring a foreign person to run the Palestinian affairs in Gaza is absolutely unacceptable, especially with the reputation that Mr. Blair has.”
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on rights in the Palestinian territories, was equally blunt.
“Tony Blair? Hell no,” she posted on X. “Shall we meet in The Hague perhaps?” she added, referring to the International Criminal Court.
Blair has remained unapologetic about joining the 2003 invasion, which triggered accusations he was “a poodle” of then US president George W. Bush.
But he has expressed regret about intelligence failures and lack of post-war planning.
“At least you could say we were removing a despot and trying to introduce democracy,” he told AFP in a 2023 interview.
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A youthful Blair first became a lawmaker for center-left Labour in 1983. Within 11 years he was spearheading reform as leader.
He became prime minister in 1997 — the first of three general election wins, an unprecedented feat for Labour — and, at 43, Britain’s youngest premier since 1812.
During his 10-year tenure, Blair oversaw a period of prosperity, enacted key constitutional changes and expanded gay rights.
He also secured a historic peace accord in Northern Ireland.
But his political fortunes shifted in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
One million people protested in London against invading Iraq, and his domestic reputation eroded further after the evidence for the war proved flawed.
He was ousted from office in 2007 after an internal power battle.
But Blair, a committed Christian, remained a globe-trotting statesman. He set up a foundation to support inter-faith dialogue and counter extremism.
He has also worked with governments in developing nations, although his lucrative consultancy work has drawn criticism.
