Tony Blair will not serve on Donald Trump's proposed Gaza 'board of peace' after Arab and Muslim nations objected to his involvement, according to the Financial Times. The former UK prime minister had been widely tipped for a key role in the transitional authority, but has been quietly removed from consideration.
Blair's backers cited his role in the Northern Ireland peace process, but critics point to his lacklustre record as Quartet representative and his association with the 2003 Iraq invasion, which generated hostility across the Arab world. Trump had described Blair as a 'very good man' when unveiling his 20-point plan in September.
The plan, drafted with input from Blair's institute, has been criticised for lacking a clear timeline to Palestinian statehood and proposing separate legal frameworks for Gaza and the West Bank. Trump conceded in October that Blair remained a controversial figure, saying he wanted to ensure Blair was 'an acceptable choice to everybody'.
Despite reports of an unpublicised meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late November, a source indicated Blair could still play a less central role. An ally confirmed he would not sit on the board, which 'will be made up of serving world leaders'.
