Israel Matzav

Shocka: Blair cancels trip to Gaza citing 'security concerns'

Quartet envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has canceled a trip he had scheduled to Gaza on Tuesday citing 'security concerns' and 'specific threats' against him.

Blair's visit, set for Tuesday, was to be his first trip to the coastal territory since the Islamic group Hamas seized control of Gaza a year ago.

Blair was expected to meet with traders and inspect a northern Gaza waste water project being built with international funds.

Hamas was to have provided security for Blair's trip. Although Hamas has mostly pacified once lawless Gaza, shadowy extremist groups are still believe to operate in Gaza.

I'm sure you're all shocked that anyone in Gaza would threaten Tony.

/sarc

UPDATE 2:02 PM

Here are more details on Tony Blair's now canceled trip:

Blair's spokesman, Matthew Doyle, said the envoy called off the visit "due to a specific security threat which would have made it irresponsible to proceed, not just for those visiting but also the local community."

"He looks forward to being able to go to Gaza again in the future and will of course in the meantime continue to work to improve the conditions for the people there," Doyle added.

Taher Nunu, a Hamas government spokesman denied there were any security threats against Blair. "Gaza is still open for all visitors, to break the siege and see the extent of suffering here," he said.

Although the once lawless Gaza has been mostly pacified under Hamas' stern rule, there are still shadowy extremist Muslim groups in the territory. On an Islamist forum popular with Gaza residents, some users slammed Blair's expected visit, but there were no direct threats of violence against him. Those comments were later removed from the Web site.

A key stop on Blair's trip would have been a northern Gaza waste water project being built with international funds. The Mideast envoy had not been expected to meet officials from Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction and is considered a terrorist group by the US, EU and Israel.

"We are very disappointed," said John Ging, Gaza director of the UN agency in charge of aiding Palestinian refugees.

Blair was also to visit Sderot on Tuesday, but that trip has been canceled as well.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:11 PM