Envoy Blair on mission to Israel

Tony Blair is beginning a two-day visit to Israel on his first mission as special envoy to the Middle East.Earlier,the former UK prime minister met Jordan's foreign minister in Amman.Israel has welcomed Mr Blair's visit,but the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has accused him of bias,and warned him not to ignore them.Mr Blair's mandate from the Quartet of Middle East negotiators involves trying to strengthen Palestinian institutions, but he cannot negotiate a peace deal.The Quartet is made up of the European Union, United Nations,US and Russia.Last week, Mr Blair said he hoped momentum could be regained in the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.But Mr Blair's mandate is limited,and many Palestinians are sceptical he can make a difference,correspondents say.
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