Third «Face the Public» session — Tony Blair, Quartet envoy: significant changes to the Gaza blockade will be noticed soon

Pal-Think for Strategic Studies organised the third episode of the “Face the Public” programme in cooperation with the German Friedrich Ebert foundation, in which the episode hosted, via videoconference, Mr Tony Blair, representative of the Quartet Committee. This episode comes under the title “The role of the Quartet Committee in lifting the blockade on Gaza”, as a continuation of Pal-Think's efforts towards strengthening constructive dialogue within Palestinian society and connecting it with decision-makers locally and internationally.

The session was opened by Mr Omar Shaban, head of Pal-Think for Strategic Studies, who welcomed Mr Blair, expressing his deep appreciation for the Quartet Committee's role in contributing to lifting and easing the blockade on the Gaza Strip. Shaban pointed to the importance of the Face the Public programme in bridging the gulf between Palestinian society and all the regional and international elements surrounding it.

For his part, Dr Michael Bröning, regional director of the German Friedrich Ebert foundation, welcomed Mr Blair, referring in his address to the important progress in the process of easing the blockade.

For his part, Mr Tony Blair affirmed the Quartet Committee's role in the process of changing political orientations in the Middle East, particularly with regard to the Palestinian–Israeli conflict, stressing that these changes will push towards the establishment of the promised Palestinian state.

On another level, Blair added that there are two essential steps that would contribute to pushing the political reality towards positive change should they occur, referring to Palestinian reconciliation and the issue of the captive soldier Gilad Shalit, where Blair affirmed that there are proposals on the table regarding solving the Shalit issue.

In his remarks on easing the blockade, Blair affirmed that there are strenuous efforts made by the Quartet to contribute to easing the blockade, referring to the signs of easing represented in the change of the list of items permitted to enter through the Strip's commercial crossings, stressing that the discussion with the Israeli side is still under way regarding the entry of building materials, energy and fuel issues and facilitating the movement of individuals, where Blair stressed that the desired solutions must come about in a satisfactory and effective manner.

In the same context, the main discussant in the episode, Mr Issam Younis, head of the al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights, affirmed that the existing blockade is a clear violation of international law, and that what is required is to define the blockade as legitimate or illegitimate and not merely to speak about easing it. The second discussant, Mr Ali Abu Shahla, member of the Palestinian Businessmen's Association, reviewed economic facts relating to the results and consequences of the existing blockade and proposed many elements necessary for rebuilding the Strip and reviving it economically.

In the whole of his replies to the questions of the discussants and the audience, Mr Blair affirmed that the Quartet wants the blockade to be lifted, that there are talks with Egypt about the status of the Rafah crossing and the possibility of operating it in the future, and also affirmed that many issues can be resolved satisfactorily while a number of others require more efforts towards their accomplishment.

Blair said, commenting on the Quartet's efforts to push the peace process forward: “We are seeking to achieve a pivotal change towards pushing the peace process forward; what is required is a bigger and clearer political picture”

Blair added during his review of the Palestinian reality: “There are many matters that must be resolved practically; Palestinian reconciliation must be accomplished through the Palestinian parties … The Quartet has two essential tasks at this stage: guaranteeing the entry of the stipulated items into the Gaza Strip and working to push the political process forward”

Many young people and university students took part in the episode, some of whom spoke about the suffering an entire generation of young people faces as a result of the existing blockade, pointing to the blockade's negative role in pushing dozens of young people towards frustration and extremism.

At the end of the episode Blair expressed his happiness at speaking with figures representing Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip, expressing his hope of visiting the Strip at the earliest possible opportunity.