Blair’s plans may legitimise Israel occupation

An all-party group of British MPs welcomed plans by Quartet envoy Tony Blair to set up economic enclaves in the West Bank but fear they may legitimize the Israeli occupation.
In a report on the Humanitarian and Development Situation in the Occupied Territories, the International Development Committee also criticised the Quartet for not pressing Israel to ease its inhumane seige of Gaza during the truce between Israel and Hamas. The report criticised the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and the construction of the illegal barrier on occupied land as being counter-productive to the peace process. While welcoming the championing of economic initiatives proposed by Blair, who gave evidence to the committee, it warned that the projects must facilitate the creation of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state and must not legitimise the Israeli occupation. The parliamentary report commented that there needs to be a fundamental change in the current restrictions on movement and access in order to see lasting economic progress. It welcomed the former British premier’s efforts to reduce strategic checkpoints but again emphasized that Palestinians should be able to move around their own country for education, healthcare, business and social reasons.