Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Palestinians Stand to Benefit in Blair Deal

Israel to dismantle some barriers to trade, travel in West Bank

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 13, 2008 11:00 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Tony Blair announced an economic deal today between Israel and the Palestinians aimed at boosting business in the West Bank, the Times of London reports. The agreement, the first brokered by the former British PM in his role as Middle East peace envoy, will see Israel remove four military checkpoints and withdraw security forces—seen as a key step toward Palestinian statehood.

The centerpiece of the accord is a development package for Jenin, a West Bank city larger than the entire Gaza Strip, which will host a business park and other economic and social projects. Though both sides greeted the plan with optimism, much depends on the reaction of the Israeli army, which is reluctant to remove checkpoints for fear of suicide bombings.

Sitting under a portrait of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Middle East Quartet envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is seen during a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, not seen, at Abbas' office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, May 12, 2008.
Sitting under a portrait of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Middle East Quartet envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is seen during a meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, not seen,...   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Mideast quartet envoy Tony Blair, center, gestures as he exits a car during a visit to the West Bank town of Jenin, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
Mideast quartet envoy Tony Blair, center, gestures as he exits a car during a visit to the West Bank town of Jenin, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
Middle East Quartet envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, waves upon his arrival to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters for a meeting, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, May 12, 2008.
Middle East Quartet envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, waves upon his arrival to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters for a meeting, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday,...   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, working as a Quartet envoy since he left Downing Street last summer, attends a meeting of Middle East peace Quartet, Friday, May 2, 2008 in London. The Middle East peace Quartet held talks in London on Friday and called on Israel to freeze continuing...
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, working as a Quartet envoy since he left Downing Street last summer, attends a meeting of Middle East peace Quartet, Friday, May 2, 2008 in London. The Middle...   (AP Photo/Leon Neal, Pool)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Report from Israel on the new accord
Haaretz (Israel)

 
Palestinian Authority • Israel • Tony Blair • Middle East • Palestine • West Bank • Jenin

More Newser Stories

Egypt Will Host Mideast Summit

Hamas Executes Captives

Israel Considers Leasing East Jerusalem

Obama Wants Israel to Take its Medicine

Mideast Peace Would Justify Obama's Nobel
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne