Muhammad Idrees Ahmad

We all know that the Palestinian Authority has a flag and a post office, but the third great achievement of the Oslo “peace process” has been hitherto overlooked — a red carpet.

So the poodle is now in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (yes, despite the red carpet, the territories still remain occupied) and he promises to bring Palestinians the same thing he has already inundated Iraqis with – dogshit (otherwise known as his “Middle East plan”). The Guardian reports:

Tony Blair yesterday proposed a controversial plan to bolster Mahmoud Abbas in his escalating battle against Hamas by funnelling millions of pounds in aid directly to security forces under the Palestinian leader’s control.The risky move…has been agreed with the US …Mr Blair is suggesting that some of the aid be used to fund the civilian police and increase Mr Abbas’s own security guard, seen as one of the more reliable forces in the region. The guard could be used to secure border passages. Some reports say as much as $26m (£13.4m) in aid would be required.

Ed Balls, the economic secretary to the Treasury, arrived in Israel last night to discuss details of the aid.

In Britain, there must clearly be elatation that the Prime Minister is attempting to elevate himself from poodle to statesman.

Mr Blair faced the accusation at home that he was in danger of funding militias in a country on the brink of civil war.

What about the Palestinians? They must surely have been bowled over by such visionary diplocmay.

Tell us Karma Nabulsi, what do you think?

What we are witnessing today is the horrific and inevitable outcome of a process of deliberate coercion, designed to force an occupied people to surrender their elected representatives.

Surely there must be someone who acknowledges Blair diplomatic achievement?

Mr Olmert praised Mr Blair’s “good and interesting ideas”, saying it was in every one’s interest for the “moderate [Palestinian] elements to be strengthened”.

So Mahmoud Abbas, in this difficult hour for Palestine, when children are being gunned down by Israeli soldiers every day, the entire population is being starved, what message do you have for the Israeli Prime Minister, the architect of these atrocities?

Mr Abbas…said he was ready to meet Mr Olmert, saying: “We need each other. We have a joint cause.”

Small step forward for a poodle; giant leap backward for humanity.