Middle East Quartet representative Tony Blair is stepping down, UN and partners announce

The diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East peace process today announced that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair plans to step aside as the group’s Representative and expressed its “deep appreciation” for his “remarkable service” and commitment to advancing peace and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians.

“As the Quartet’s envoy on the ground during the last eight years, Mr. Blair demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace and made lasting contributions to the effort to promote economic growth and improve daily life in the West Bank and Gaza,” read a statement issued by the Quartet.

The Quartet, represented by the United Nations, the Russian Federation, the United States, and the European Union, appointed the former British Prime Minister as its representative in 2007.

In its statement, the Quartet expressed its deep appreciation to Tony Blair and thanked him “for his remarkable service” and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing peace and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians.