In 2010, long before Tony Blair returned to the centre of Middle East diplomacy, he attended the christening of Rupert and Wendi Deng Murdoch’s daughters in New York. Few noticed the quiet exchange between Blair and a young businessman, Jared Kushner, whose wife, Ivanka Trump, was connected to the family. That encounter, seemingly incidental, would quietly shape the next decade of Blair’s involvement in the region. It was the start of a relationship that would later place him at the heart of US-led peace initiatives in Gaza, long after his first attempt as Quartet envoy ended in public failure.
When Blair resigned as British prime minister in 2007, he took on the role of Middle East envoy for the Quartet, a coalition of nations and international organisations tasked with mediating peace between Israel and Palestine. Announced by President George W. Bush, Blair was hailed as “not only a friend, but also a visionary leader.” Yet Palestinian authorities quickly dismissed him and the Quartet as ineffective, urging him to leave Jerusalem. Behind the scenes, Blair’s supporters insist the failure lay less with him than with the US system, where figures such as Vice-President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice blocked substantive engagement. Blair’s remit became largely economic, and the grand hope for a political breakthrough remained unrealised.
Now, Blair is back at the centre of diplomacy, named as the first member of President Trump’s Board of Peace. Observers suggest his long-standing network across Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and the US is a unique asset. Trump praised him as a “good man,” while Blair himself has highlighted the significance of the president’s direct involvement as a vital signal. The combination of personal connections and high-level political backing could make this attempt markedly different from his previous one.
Central to this role is Blair’s relationship with Kushner. Their early meetings—at christenings, private dinners, and later in Aspen and New York—laid the groundwork for Blair’s discreet support of Kushner’s efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Arab states. Blair played a key part in securing the UAE as the first Arab nation to sign the Abraham Accords in 2020, ensuring the accord’s credibility and momentum. These behind-the-scenes manoeuvres, largely unknown to the public at the time, underscore the importance of personal trust in Middle East diplomacy.
Blair’s presence in the White House during Israeli visits, and in private Gaza summits arranged by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, has drawn attention, but scepticism persists among Palestinians. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu has criticised Blair, citing his past, including the Iraq War, as compromising his neutrality. Many Palestinians question foreign involvement, asserting that their people are capable of managing their own affairs.
Trump’s 20-point peace plan, now intertwined with Blair’s experience and connections, draws on decades of diplomacy from the Balfour Declaration to the present day. Much of its content remains confidential, highlighting how much of the region’s geopolitics depends on personal networks and private negotiation rather than public pronouncements. Blair’s return demonstrates the enduring influence of these relationships. Whether this initiative can finally deliver lasting change in Gaza remains uncertain, but it is one of the most closely watched and potentially transformative diplomatic efforts in recent memory.
