Blair, a senior Board of Peace figure, met the president between coalition consultations • He is scheduled to see Gadi Eisenkot on Friday | Officials describe the US framework as deadlocked
Tony Blair, a senior member of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, sat down with President Isaac Herzog at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on Thursday as part of a visit to Israel devoted to Washington's plans for Gaza. Next on his schedule is Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, whom he is due to meet on Friday.
Herzog received the former British prime minister between rounds of his consultations with political parties following the election to the 26th Knesset.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Blair also held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His agenda covers the opening stages of the American framework. These include the entry of a Palestinian technocratic committee into Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
The body proposed for the first of those tasks, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, would oversee civilian administration and the restoration of essential services. The international force would help establish security arrangements during the transition.
Ynet reported that officials familiar with the negotiations describe a significant deadlock, with no meaningful movement in the American framework. The outlet added that officials in Jerusalem still do not know what Israeli policy toward Gaza will look like in the coming months.
The political backdrop to the visit shifted on Thursday, when the Joint List, a faction that represents primarily Arab voters, announced it would recommend Eisenkot to form the next government, Arutz Sheva reported. The decision gives the former IDF chief of staff 67 Knesset endorsements against Netanyahu's 46, with seven MKs declining to back either candidate. That count leaves Eisenkot positioned to receive the first mandate from Herzog.
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