Blair to pressure Israel on regional trip
British Prime Minister Tony Blair will begin a six-day visit to the Middle East on April 17, to highlight the European Union's attempt to revive the stumbled peace process, as Britain is currently the president of the European Union.
The prime minister's tour will include Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon.
Blair is expected to carry a European initiative to enhance the peace process in the region, while Britain exerts pressures parallel to those of the US to convince Israel that peace is for its benefit and that Security Council resolutions pertaining to Israel have to be implemented the same as is the case with Iraq.
Israeli - British relations recently hit rough waters due to the British Foreign Secretary's visit to the Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) settlement, which angered Israel.
