Tony Blair resurfaced on the international stage to plaudits yesterday as he emerged as a key figure at the Middle East peace conference.

Since standing down this year, Mr Blair has been working largely behind the scenes in the region to help to secure the peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians that eluded him during his decade in office. He was greeted by President Bush, in his opening remarks, and thanked warmly by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, for his efforts to help the Palestinians. Mr Blair embraced Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, and kissed Mr Abbas.

“He has been working non-stop in the region,” one diplomat said. “He has become one of the key figures involved in the diplomatic effort.”

Mr Blair, who heads the Middle East Quartet, made up of America, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, is primarily responsible for trying to help to build up the capacity of the Palestinian Authority (PA). He plans to host a summit in Paris next month, where he will ask foreign donors to donate hundreds of millions of pounds to bolster Palestinian institutions. Britain has already offered £250 million in the hope of securing similar pledges from Western countries and the oil-rich Gulf states.

Blair casts himself as EU president candidate

Speaking on French TV, Tony Blair sang the praises of the EU and sketched his agenda for its future, all in fluent French

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• Deadline set for end to Israel-Palestine conflict

The PA still fails to provide basic services to the Palestinian population and barely controls the West Bank. Experts believe that only when the PA can prove itself to be a viable authority, particularly in terms of providing security, will Israel believe that it has a real partner.

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