Blair makes bid to restore Middle East road map

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has a clear goal for his foray into Middle East peacemaking: reviving the international peace blueprint known as the road map.

But Mr. Blair is limited by a lack of British clout in a US-dominated arena, and a possible divergence of long-term goals with Israel and Washington.

The initiative will take form in an international conference on Palestinian reform scheduled to take place in London early next year. Britain hopes it will be attended by the Palestinian Authority, European Union, United States, Russia, United Nations, and several Arab countries.

The aim, as Blair spelled out during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Wednesday, is to make sure Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip next year becomes a step toward restoring the international peace blueprint known as the road map, which calls for the emergence of a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

Concern over Israeli intentions toward the road map has mounted since remarks two months ago by senior Sharon aide Dov Weisglass that the Gaza withdrawal is aimed at freezing the peace process.

Mr. Weisglass last week reversed himself and said the withdrawal could be a step toward an independent Palestinian state.

"The idea is that when disengagement happens we will be able to use the opportunity to ensure we can make progress to get back to the road map," Blair said.

"The point is that unless there is a viable [Palestinian] partner in terms of institutions for democracy, institutions necessary for a proper economy, and measures on security to give Israel the confidence it requires, we are never going to get back into the road map and everything will become academic," Mr. Blair said. The London conference, he says, is aimed at making headway on all three fronts.

The US is backing the conference out of deference to its closest ally, but seems thus far to not be embracing it very closely.

"I expect we will be associated with this," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said of the conference. according to the Associated Press. "But how exactly it is going to materialize and what it is going to be, I really think you have to let the British answer."

Analysts say Blair's motives for moving on the Israeli-Palestinian front are varied, including concern that Washington will remain aloof from peacemaking, domestic political calculations, and a perception that resolving grievances related to the Palestinian issue is essential for overall strategic aims.

"I think Blair has a genuine belief that without a genuine resolution of the conflict you can only make so much progress in the war on terrorism and on [regional] reform," says Rosemary Hollis, Middle East director at London's Chatham House.

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