Brussels: A change in strategy in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations might lead to the success of the Annapolis conference, said Tony Blair, Former British Premier and Special Envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East.

"We have to change the context of the reality on the ground if the negotiations launched at the Annapolis conference is to succeed," Blair told the Working Group on the Middle East of the European Parliament (EP) here Tuesday.

"In other words if things stay as they are, no significant progress of Palestinian capability on security, no significant lifting of the occupation, then it would be extremely difficult for negotiations about two states to succeed.

"The strategy that I think we have to have is to alter that context on the ground," said the former British Prime Minister. "For ordinary Palestinians life is extremely difficult. They face a myriad of different obstacles and checkpoints. But even on the West Bank life is difficult for ordinary Palestinians," said Blair who last June was appointed as Quartet Representative by the UN, the EU, the US and Russia.

He said Palestinians in Gaza are facing significant humanitarian problems, but the Israelis are also facing constant rocket attacks coming from Gaza. "We need a different strategy for Gaza," said Blair.

EP President Hans-Gert Poettering, who launched the Group in February, said the EP is very active in Middle East affairs.
Source : PTI