culled from the BBC
=====================================================
Tony it seems is now speaking up. I wonder if it's gotta to do with the
heckling some  Backbenchers gave him in the commons yesterday. The backbenchers
rightly argued that the house should have been recalled back to discuss the
violence in the middle east in addition to the death of the queen mum,
but "President" Tony just would have none of it.
One MP went as far as to tell Blair that The queen mum would have been appalled
at the actions of the Israelis and even more outraged that his govt is mute
about it.

Regards
Dave
========================================================
Blair 'appalled' by Mid East violence


Tony Blair is "appalled" by the escalating violence in the Middle East and
thinks the situation is the "most explosive" seen for years, Downing Street
says.
Number 10 says the prime minister wants to use his weekend summit with
President George Bush to discuss how the US can persuade the Israelis and
Palestinians to pull back from the "abyss".


The comments came after Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain warned the conflict
threatened to draw in the wider international community.

A European Union peace mission has been sent to Jerusalem to mediate but Israel
says the EU officials cannot meet Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Northern Ireland lessons

Downing Street said on Thursday the key for the summit between Mr Blair and Mr
Bush in Texas is to get America to exert pressure on the two sides to accept a
political process.

Mr Blair, who leaves for America on Friday, believes his experience with the
Northern Ireland peace process can "help the USA play this role".

Mr Blair believes the US president is "fully engaged" in peace efforts, but he
is likely to argue that more needs to be done.


Possible military action against Iraq over its alleged build-up of weapons of
mass destruction is also on the agenda for the meeting.

Number 10 says no decisions will be taken at the talks, but that Mr Blair hopes
he will get a better understanding of the threat posed by Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein.

Opponents of action against Iraq argue such a move could only dangerously
enflame the current violence in the Middle East.

Earlier, Mr Hain said diplomacy was the only option for ending the current
cycle of violence in the region.
"I am really worried about the escalation of this crisis, not just in the
region but internationally, that draws us all in," he said.

The Europe minister said Britain had to stand with the EU, US, United Nations
and Russia in calling for an end to the violence.

He denied any suggestion of a split between Europe and the US in the wake of
President Bush's comment that he "understood" Israel's "anti-terrorist
initiative".

The UN has called for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from

Mr Hain told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday: "It is absolutely vital
now that we together bring every bit of diplomatic and other pressures to bear
on those responsible for the escalating, uncontrollable violence to make sure
that we end it ..."

He added: "This is the most dangerous conflict in the world at the moment."

David Satterfield, the United States' Assistant Secretary of State for Middle
East affairs, told Today that there was "no military solution" to the conflict.

While Israel had the right "to take action in their own defence" against
suicide bombings it was also "extremely important for Israel to focus upon
where this all leads and whether in the short, medium and long term these steps
are contributing to the long-term cessation of violence".

Mr Satterfield said Israel should withdraw its troops from the occupied
territories while both sides take "meaningful steps" to end the escalating
violence.

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