Maan: Blair Blames Poor PA Economy on ‘Occupation’

According to the Bethlehem-based Maan news agency, Quartet Envoy Tony Blair blames the “suffocating pressure of the occupation” for the poor state of the Palestinian Authority economy.  In an interview with a Maan journalist, Blair said he believes his role as envoy is to “offer people a strategy to get to a Palestinian state.”

While Blair was sympathetic to complaints against the “occupation,” he refused to show sympathy for Hamas, saying the world was right to boycott the group even after it was victorious in the 2006 PA elections.  Hamas won the election, Blair said, and “I respect that. But if you want my money and you want my help we do need to know where you stand before I give it to you.” As long as Hamas does not recognize Israel, it should not be included in negotiations, he said.

Blair expressed support for the destruction of Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria, but refrained from saying which specific towns should be destroyed.  “Those that are going to be in the Palestinian territory,” should be evacuated, he said.