TONY BLAIR (SORT OF) STANDS UP FOR ISRAEL

Blair blasts anti-Israel question
British Prime Minister Tony Blair strongly rebuked a journalist who equated Palestinian terrorism with what the journalist described as "state terrorism" by Israel. Answering questions at his monthly press conference, Blair said: "We have got to be extremely careful of ending up with some sort of moral equivalence in terms of what is happening."

Britain had stated its criticism of Israel in certain areas, he said, "but I really don't think, particularly at this moment and with what has happened in Russia, we should have any sense [that] the people who are doing this [terrorism] have any legitimacy whatever... It is appalling and atrocious."

He said Britain had been critical of Israeli reprisals, "but... whatever criticisms we have, that is not the same. "I would simply say to you that the single most important thing we could do internationally is to make it clear that if the terrorism stops we stand ready to make sure that the peace process moves forward. And I know what huge importance it would be if we managed to get this Middle East peace process back under way."