Trump trusts Blair, others don't - could he govern Gaza?

"As prime minister of the UK for more than 10 years, Sir Tony Blair was a master of political compromise. He was seen as a deft negotiator of the centre ground, triangulating his way out of the straitjacket of traditional left-right politics. But if there were peace in Gaza and he were summoned to help govern what was left, would even Teflon Tony as he was once known have the political wiles to keep all sides happy and the guns silent?"

"Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan envisages an international transitional body that would oversee the governance of post-war Gaza. The US president would chair this so-called "Board of Peace" and Sir Tony, aged 72, would be a member. He's a "good man, very good man", Trump told reporters. Sir Tony's presence on this hypothetical body would come as no surprise. The former prime minister has been closely involved in drawing up Gaza peace proposals for months. He has been working with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and Ron Dermer, a key adviser to Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In August, Sir Tony attended a high-level meeting with Trump at the White House to discuss a post-war strategy for the Strip. A month earlier he also held talks with Steve Witkoff, the president's chief envoy, at the White House. In a statement, Sir Tony not unsurprisingly lavished praise on the Trump plan, describing it as "bold and intelligent" and "the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering". He said the proposals created the possibility not only "of Israelis and Palestinians finding a path to peace" but also "a broader regional and global alliance to counter the forces of extremism and promote peace and prosperity between nations"."

Tony Blair is linked to Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan as a proposed member of an international transitional "Board of Peace" to help govern post-war Gaza. The plan would be chaired by the US president and envisage international oversight of Gaza's governance. Blair has worked closely with Jared Kushner, Ron Dermer and White House envoys and attended high-level meetings to shape post-war strategy. Blair praised the plan as "bold and intelligent" and "the best chance of ending two years of war, misery and suffering," saying it could enable Israeli-Palestinian peace and a regional alliance against extremism.

Read at www.bbc.com