By Martha Moss - 1st April 2009
If we do not take definitive action then the situation will be very serious indeed
Tony Blair
Tony Blair has called on the EU to focus on making 2009 "a year of progress" for the Middle East peace process.
The representative of the Middle East quartet told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday that the last six months had been "very difficult".
This was because of the situation in Israeli politics, the new administration in the US and divisions on the Palestinian side, he said.
A two-state solution was the only option for peace in the Middle East, he argued.
"There is no alternative to a two-state solution, except the one-state solution," he said. "And if there is a one-state solution, there's going to be a big fight."
Blair's comments come after Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli government was sworn in on Tuesday.
Palestinian human rights groups estimate that an Israeli offensive on Gaza, which began last December in a bid to end Hamas' rocket attacks, killed more than 1400 Palestinians - including more than 900 civilians.
And the former UK prime minister, in Brussels for talks with external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said Europe needed to adopt a different policy on Gaza which "shows hope for the future".
"I think it's very important to engage with the people in Gaza," he said.
He also called for "a programme of change on the West Bank", saying, "If we do not take definitive action then the situation will be very serious indeed."
"I do believe that if there is no significant progress in 2009, we face a situation of great jeopardy for the peace process," said Blair.
While he acknowledged it would be difficult to predict whether 2009 would be a "make or break year", he said the next six months "will be critical in determining whether the situation can move forward".
Ferrero-Waldner also called for Gaza's border crossings to be re-opened to ensure Palestinians can receive European aid, and said Netanyahu's government must work towards a two-state solution.
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