News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Tony Blair stepped into his new position as Quartet Middle East envoy Thursday with hopes and dreams and told worldwide diplomats in Lisbon, "Just imagine for a moment if this process were moving forward again, just think how much hope there would be."

The Quartet, comprising the United Nations, United States, European Union (EU) and Russia, met with Blair, American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and other diplomats in a unified effort to accelerate plans for Israel to give away most of Judea and Samaria and all of Gaza for a new Arab state.

They have demanded that the Palestinian Authority (PA) declare its recognition of Israel and work to end terrorism.