Blair is far more qualified than Rice to hold peace talks.

Ray Baker, Newcastle, England

Blair took this job on a false pretence, when he was offered a job I bet he didn't agree to be one of the backroom boys. This is the ultimate snub from America after he led the British into the American war effort. He and us British folk deserve better, why should we be snubbed like this by people who valued massively the British war effort and the many British lives give to the assistance of America. If this is the American attitude to Blair and the British people, we should bring or service people back from both conflicts.

Ray B, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Unless Blair convert both the Palestinians and Israelis to Catholicism, there will be no Peace in Holy Land.

Mark Herd, London,

After Bush, Tony Blair is the second most hated man in the middle-east. He is a tool of the neo-cons. His history of support for the invasion and murder of 650,000 Iraqis makes him a monster of historic proportions. Now we are supposed to believe that he is some kind of peace mission? Please write the truth. Blair is there to dictate terms to a Quisling.

Bill Owen, Ottawa, Ontario

George Bush told Blair that he has no policy making authority, which means that he is just window dressing.

Why would Blair continue to allow himself to used like this????

Sammy, Detroit, MI, USA

In the atmosphere of mutual distrust in Middle East, I wonder how Mr. Blair will play his part. Every step taken by Israel or Palestine leadership is put under the microsocope by each. There is simply no trust existing there. Mr. Blair could hardly be said as the man-for-the job but it will be interesting to see how he works. A generation of people in the Holy Land have been brought up amidst bullets and guns. It's not that they do not want peace. It's just that they do not even know if that WORD exists. Convincing these people of a life sans violence is like telling an African bushmen of space travel.
Can Mr. Blair do that NOW?

mbawmba, Jamaica, Jamaica

Rice has failed, Blair could certainly succeed if he told the jewish people the truth, "stay here and you will all be dead within ten years, get out now and you won't be." Rice won't do it, Blair might. What is more important, your families or a bit of land that though promised to you was withdrawn from you later? Time will tell if Blair succeeds but if truth be told I think he will succeed in redeeming himself but will fail in redeeming them.

John, Dundee, UK

So Blair's first steps are to go to the eastern Med and have a good long siesta. I could do that!

Tom, Preston, UK

I think Mr/Ms U. Besemann is a little harsh. I am no fan of Mr Blair, but nobody can question his past success with peace in Northern Ireland. Not to mention the positive reception to his role in the region by both Palestinian and Israeli officials.

R. Dyer, Reading, UK

i like Blair. he is a big figure in England and other place in the world.

colin, BEIJING,

Once more, with US backing, the Israelis are permitted to set out the conditions for peace talks with the Palestinians. Blair has been told to accept that or get off the train. Meanwhile the Palestinians are pleading for an immediate start to serious negotiations. They will not get it, and Israel will continue to ignore demands to stop expanding settlements, and so they make a future peace that much more impossible. Blair should resign now in protest, and not continue with this fiasco.

Richard Pollard, Stafford, Virginia, USA

You might want to get the names and the relevant positions right

Mikko Summala, Reading, UK

How can the Midlle Eastern leaders treat Blair seriously when he has such a history of lies, deceit and self-promotion?

John, Chania, Crete

I think Blair could do a good job if given a wide scope (eg. it should be up to him who he talks to and he should be given a wider remit) but it seems that the Bush administration wants to poke it´s nose in a keep Condi in charge. This is a mistake. Even though Blair is tainted by Iraq, he certainly is preferred to any American. I get the feeling that Blair will get frustrated unless he has given a wider remit. He should be given a chance to bring his negotiating skills that he used in N. Ireland to this new arena. If Blair is to be acting on behalf of the quartet then why does Dr. Rice lead negotiations? It should be left up to Blair, the Israeli´s and the Palestinians, and of course regional powers too.

Matty J, Frankfurt, Germany

There could be no one chosen for this role more biased and unqualified as an evenhanded mediator in this process than Mr. Blair. He is the last in a long list of British politicians who have with the consent and collusion of the United States single-handedly thrown the Mideast into chaos, death and destruction.

U. Besemann, Franklinville , USA, New York

Hi,
As human nature has it a conflict situation between Mr Blair and Dr Rice may be an inevitability in pursut of the “holy grail” of Middle East pease

Terence Hale, Zandvoort, Holland