Hamas sends warning to Tony Blair
The militant Palestinian group Hamas has warned Tony Blair today, that his credibility as the international Middle-East peace envoy will be damaged if he ignores them.
The former British Prime Minister is expected in Israel and the West Bank early next week, in his first visit since being appointed.
Hamas hard-liner Mahmoud Zahar, said that any attempt by Blair to 'marginalise the Hamas movement will cost him his credibility'.
However he has been instructed by the International Quartet to have no dealings with the group, who last month forcibly seized control of Gaza from forces of the Fatah movement loyal to Abbas.
The Quartet refuses to deal with Hamas because it refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist, renounce violence or accept agreements by previous Palestinian governments with Israel.
After his first meeting with Quartet leaders on Thursday, Blair said he will need all the optimism he can muster to make headway in his new task, but that he is 'determined to try'.
