WEST BANK: Quartet's Special Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair visits West Bank villages that are surrounded by illegal Jewish settlements

Record ID: 560682

  • Title: WEST BANK: Quartet's Special Envoy to the Middle East Tony Blair visits West Bank villages that are surrounded by illegal Jewish settlements
  • Date: 20th March 2009
  • Summary: BEIT SKARYA VILLAGE NEAR BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (MARCH 19, 2009) (REUTERS) MIDDLE EAST ENVOY TONY BLAIR LEAVING CAR / GREETING UN OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF MAN DISCUSSING LAND DISPUTES WITH BLAIR BLAIR LISTENING TO MAN ELDERLY MAN SITTING OUTSIDE HOME BLAIR SHAKING HANDS WITH ELDERLY MAN / BLAIR CROUCHING TO LISTEN TO MAN BLAIR DRINKING COFFEE FROM TRADITIONAL SMALL CUP BLAIR WALKING WITH LOCALS AL TWAINEH VILLAGE NEAR HEBRON, WEST BANK (MARCH 19, 2009) (REUTERS) VIEW OF ILLEGAL JEWISH SETTLEMENT BUILT ON WEST BANK VIEW OF VILLAGE IN VALLEY UNDER SETTLEMENT BLAIR'S CONVOY ARRIVING AT VILLAGE BANNER AT LOCAL COUNCIL BUILDING READING: 'LOCAL COUNCIL GREET THE GREAT GUEST MR. TONY BLAIR' BLAIR TALKING WITH SECURITY OFFICIALS ESCORTING HIM (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIDDLE EAST ENVOY, TONY BLAIR, SAYING: "This is a major, major, issue and I wanted to come here because of the whole question to do with "Area C" and how it operates and how it runs should be a big part of the discussion we are having towards peace. Secondly, in relation to the demolition of homes and so on, I mean, again this is something that we raise constantly and is incredibly important, I think especially so because people feel there is no justice or equality in the way these rules are applied." BLAIR, SURROUNDED BY GUARDS, TALKING TO JOURNALISTS ELDER PALESTINIAN WOMEN DISPLAYING HOME MADE GIFT FOR BLAIR BLAIR SHAKING HANDS WITH WOMAN AFTER BEING PRESENTED WITH GIFT TWO WOMEN LOOKING OUT OF WINDOW OF HOME IN VILLAGE BLAIR'S CONVOY LEAVING VILLAGE
  • Embargoed: 4th April 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5PWXQVQ8DKT6NMTF5I2VRL5V9
  • Story Text: The Middle East quartet's special envoy former British prime minister Tony Blair visited Palestinian villages on Thursday (March 19) involved in land disputes with Jewish settlers.
    Blair was briefed by the local councils of Beit Skarya and Al Twaineh villages whose land has been confiscated by Israel in recent years to build settlements.
    Blair also toured the separation barrier as he met local leaders, commenting on "Area C" and highlighting the importance of including the zoning issue in peace talks.

    "This is a major, major, issue and I wanted to come here because of the whole question to do with "Area C" and how it operates and how it runs should be a big part of the discussion we are having towards peace. Secondly, in relation to the demolition of homes and so on, I mean, again this is something that we raise constantly and is incredibly important, I think especially so because people feel there is no justice or equality in the way these rules are applied," Blair told reporters in the West Bank village of Al-Twaineh near Hebron.
    Israeli authorities say the barrier is needed to prevent would-be suicide bombers from infiltrating into Israeli communities.
    Palestinians say the barrier prevents residents from tending to their land, and is an attempt by Israel to claim land Palestinians wish to have for a future independent state.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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