Blair urges Bush to ensure Middle East peace progress

1.00pm - By ANDREW GRICE


Tony Blair demanded that George Bush ensure real progress on the Middle East peace process within six months when the two leaders held a one-to-one dinner at the White House last night.

The British Prime Minister, who was frustrated by the President's failure to move on the Middle East in his first term, sought a firm commitment that he would throw his administration's full weight behind a renewed drive to resolve the Palestinian question.

British officials played down hopes that the two leaders would unveil a new blueprint on the Middle East when they hold a joint press conference at the White House today.

But Mr Blair has told close colleagues: "People should judge progress in six months."

His six-month deadline is significant, since he has pencilled in a general election for next May. It is a clear sign that Mr Blair feels that he needs to show a tangible return before polling day for his unwavering support for a US President who is unpopular in Britain.

Although the Prime Minister has played down talk of a direct "payback" for Iraq, British ministers see his Washington visit in precisely those terms.

"Tony has the earned the right to cash in his chips," said one.

Mr Blair was expected to use last night's private dinner, which was not attended by any US or British officials, to remind the President of his political difficulties in Britain over Iraq.

"The Americans think the Tories are going nowhere. But Tony will be reminding them we have got politics and an election in Britain too," said the minister.

While Mr Blair admits privately that some voters who opposed the Iraq war will never be won round, he hopes to persuade some of his critics to look forward rather than backwards.

"The Iraq elections in January and progress on the Middle East are the two hurdles we need to clear," said one Blair aide.

Mr Blair was armed with figures showing that only 18 per cent of America's Jewish population voted for President Bush when he won re-election -- a sign that he can afford to step up pressure on Israel.

London hopes that the death of Yasser Arafat will provide a greater opportunity to kickstart the peace process.

"With Arafat gone, it means the Americans will engage," one Cabinet minister said yesterday.

The two leaders will discuss ways the international community can help the Palestinians hold elections and assist with policing, administration, the economy and political development.

British officials said last night's dinner, further talks and a working lunch today would not produce a timetable or detailed proposals but predicted that the President and Prime Minister would agree a "work plan" for their respective government machines to take forward. It will not be published.

The officials said it was too early to talk about final status talks or a peace conference in London, saying the first priority was to "send a clear signal of intent to produce the momentum to drive the process forward."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Arafat's death heralded "a new era".

While Britain had not hidden its differences with him, the spokesman said Mr Arafat had helped to establish the vision of a two-state solution.

"The important thing is to move forward and implement that vision," he said.

He added that while the US was "in a unique position" to help the process, London and Washington could not make progress without the support of the "players in the region."

Mr Blair said yesterday: "That goal of a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israeli is one that we must continue to work tirelessly to achieve. Peace in the Middle East must be the international community's highest priority. We will do whatever we can, working with the US and the EU, to help the parties reach a fair and durable settlement."

During his 24-hour visit, Mr Blair will also press the President to "re-engage" with Europe -- notably France and Germany --in his second term and to back Britain's two priorities when it takes over the G8 presidency in January -- tackling climate change and poverty in Africa.

He is expected to oppose any US military intervention to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons and raise the position of the four Britons still detained at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Defending his close relationship with the President, Mr Blair said yesterday that it was "part of my job". He told GMTV: "The relationship between Britain and the US is fantastically important. It is a huge strength of this country to have that relationship and if we are confronting this threat of terrorism in the world, it is important we confront it together."

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