Blair told he is not welcome in Ramallah

Leaving aside the fact that his war in Iraq and his refusal to call for a ceasefire in Lebanon have both contributed to Tony Blair being forced, against his will, to let it be known that he will stand down in less than a year; the futility of what he can hope to achieve in that year was amply demonstrated yesterday when a group of Palestinian politicians and intellectuals published an advertisement letting him know that he is not welcome in Ramallah.

The group declared of Mr Blair in an advertisement in the Palestinian newspaper al-Ayyam: "He is coming here to wash clean his hands, hands that are dripping with Lebanese blood, with Palestinian water. We, the signatories... notables, intellectuals and political declare that Tony Blair is persona non grata."

Blair must think that people in the Middle East have very short memories if he thinks he can now swan into the region and act as some kind of middle man.

No British Prime Minister has ever adopted such a pro-Israeli stance as the one adopted by Blair. Indeed, Blair was supportive of the blockade that was placed on the Palestinians for the crime of having the temerity to vote for Hamas in free elections.

Maybe he's going there to explain to them which parties they should vote for next time they have elections to avoid the wrath of the west.

It's just a further indication of what a lame duck Prime Minister he now is. Far better to have a new leader go to the region without the pro-Israeli baggage that Blair carries.

The battered Palestinians will receive him, as they are welcoming anyone who will bring media attention to their plight, but the welcome he gets in Tel Aviv will be much warmer than the welcome he receives in Ramallah.

Only Blair would have the sheer chutzpah to visit these people after all he has done to them.

Shameless. It's the only word: Shameless.

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Tags: Blair, Hamas, Palestine, Ramallah, visit, protests