A short glimpse into the past will better illuminate the discussion.
In June 2007 Blair was named the new Middle East envoy for the Quartet -- the US, Russia, the EU and the UN -- just hours after he stood down from his premiership and shortly before he was to quit the British Parliament. On June 27, 2007, during his final parliament session, Blair said: "The absolute priority is to try to give effect to what is now the consensus across the international community -- that the only way of bringing stability and peace to the Middle East is a two-state solution."
As Quartet representative, it was announced that Blair would "mobilize international assistance to the Palestinians … to help to identify, and secure appropriate international support in addressing the institutional governance needs of the Palestinian state … to develop plans to promote Palestinian economic development, including private sector partnerships, building on previously agreed frameworks … and liaise with other countries as appropriate in support of the agreed Quartet objectives." Blair was expected to "spend significant time in the region working with the parties and others to help create viable and lasting government institutions representing all Palestinians, a robust economy and a climate of law and order for the Palestinian people" and "report to and consult regularly with the Quartet and be guided by it as necessary."
However, since then Blair has not condescended to step into Gaza. Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor, said then that "failure in the Middle East is more likely than success" as "Israelis like Blair because they believe he is on their side and Palestinians in the main do not trust him for the same reason."
One of the skeptics about Blair's appointment, Rosemary Hollis of the Chatham House think tank in London, said: "I am flabbergasted. … It shows how the people behind this live in a rarefied atmosphere and have no concept of what is happening on the ground. … He had little enough influence as prime minister. How can he have more now? … There might be an element of giving him the job simply because he wants it so badly but beyond that, the game plan, if there is one, might be to try to out-maneuver Hamas and build up President [Mahmoud] Abbas."
Since then Blair has been busy establishing his interfaith and educational organizations and lecturing about faith and globalization. Recently he gave TV interviews explaining his decision to delay converting to Roman Catholicism until after his resignation as prime minister. In a BBC One interview, for example, Blair said he "feared talking about his religious beliefs during his time in Downing Street would lead to people dismissing him as a 'nutter'." But he said he "regretted" he "had not been more adventurous in referring to his own faith while he was prime minister."
His religion doesn't bother me, but the recent revelations about his confusion and struggle to be a Catholic or Anglican but Catholic, and even the claim that he reads the Quran every evening, seem to be an investment or "an exclusive franchise on God's grace." We may soon start hearing that Islam is not like this or that, and so on. All of a sudden we will have an upstart expert on Islamic issues and Muslims -- and his "compassion," which requires a new "charter of religions"! If Judaism, Christianity and Islam are not enough to make people lead a life in peace and happiness, then here comes Blair's solution! Blair seems to believe that he has God on his side and everyone else is godless. Rather than serving God, Blair seems to wish to be God's "advisor."
Blair must look at the dehumanizing conflagration in Gaza and see his failure as a "peace envoy," and how so far he has been instrumental in sociopolitical, psychological, financial and environmental disasters. Our faith communities have enough of our own sacred books, scholars and experts. We do not need to be preached at by Blair on faith, peace or shared moral principles.
Religious rhetoric should not be the instrument of choice for political leaders to manipulate public opinion and to sanction certain policies, Mr. Blair! Do not use religion as a justification for the most selfish reasons. Do not adulterate any religion or divine messages with your own cheap, worldly, political, self-serving and egregious acts or intentions. Otherwise, they become more devastating weapons within the hands of radicals. I am referring you, Mr. Blair, to your book (Matthew 5:13), in which Jesus, peace be upon him, is quoted as saying: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
Note: This article was written before Tony Blair visited Jerusalem on Jan. 06, 2009.
