Blair says process of bringing Israel closer to Arab states ‘going well’

Former British prime minister Tony Blair says “we’re not going to reach [Israeli-Palestinian] peace in the old way,” but rather urges a new, regional approach.

He says his goal is to have open Arab recognition of — and relationships with — the State of Israel, while emphasizing that it will require a peace deal with the Palestinians.

“The key to transforming the Middle East, and therefore a more peaceful world” is ties between Israel and the Arab world, he says. Blair says that while there is security cooperation, he is seeking broader economic, civil society cooperation. “It’s happening, but it needs to be happening much more,” he says.

But he adds that these relationships will only be developed if the Palestinian issue is resolved, or “at least on a path to resolution.

“Sometime out of chaos can come opportunity,” he says, adding that “the Arab nations have a common interest in Israel in fighting this extremism.”

Blair says the process of bridging divides between Israel and the Arab world is “going well, actually.

“Up to now, people thought if you do a peace deal, than the circumstances will change. I think it’s the other way around,” he says.