TONY Blair has categorically denied a senior diplomat's claim that he asked the Palestinian Authority to remove the word “Palestine” from school textbooks.
It comes after former British diplomat Jeremy Greenstock, who served as the UK ambassador to the UN from 1998 to 2003, alleged that the “Board of Peace” set up by US president Donald Trump had recently given Blair the task as part of Israel-Palestine peace negotiations.
Blair, who was UK prime minister from 1997 to 2007, is an executive board member of the Board of Peace, which Trump purportedly set up to end the war on Gaza.
Speaking to Middle East Eye editor-in-chief David Hearst’s podcast, Greenstock said: “I don't think that Tony Blair, although he understands the principles involved here, is in a position to negotiate with both sides with equal respect from both of them because of his record on Iraq and on Palestine since he left government.
“I don't think he's a convincing interlocutor for the Palestinians and will be seen as prejudiced. I think he will have – and is having difficulties.
“He recently, I understand, was asked by the Board of Peace to go to Ramallah [the administrative capital of Palestine] and ask to remove from the Palestinian curriculum any mention of the word ‘Palestine’ if they were to be treated by the Board of Peace as capable of coming to an agreement with Israel to end the current conflict.”
Blair, in a statement issued through the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, called the allegations a “complete fabrication”.
It went on: “We categorically deny the claims made in a recent media report, attributed to a former British diplomat, alleging that Mr Blair asked the Palestinian Authority to remove the name ‘Palestine’ from Palestinian school curricula or replace it with another term [Samaria].
“This claim is entirely false and without foundation. Mr Blair has made no such request, nor has he conveyed or endorsed any proposal to this effect.
“Mr Blair continues, in cooperation with members of the Board of Peace and relevant parties, to focus his efforts on supporting the peace process, contributing to the implementation of the peace plan, supporting the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, and working towards a more secure, stable and prosperous future for all the peoples of the region.
“Given the sensitivity of the current moment and the issues surrounding ongoing peace efforts, it is important to adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and professionalism, and of verifying information before publishing claims that could mislead the public or undermine efforts to achieve peace.”
The Israeli government refers to the Palestinian West Bank, which it is illegally occupying, as "Judea and Samaria".
Israel is also accused of war crimes and genocide in Gaza.
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