Crucially, the plan appears to have received Trump’s stamp of approval following a meeting in August where Blair, alongside Jared Kushner and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, presented the proposal to the president. Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister of strategic affairs who is a close confidant of Prime Minister Netanyahu, is said to have joined the meeting by phone.
A source close to Blair – who served as a special envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet of international powers (the US, EU, Russia and the UN) from 2007 to 2015 – told The Economist: “He’s willing to sacrifice his time. He genuinely wants to end the war.”
Although Trump is said to be onboard with Blair’s plan, it was also reported this week that US president had himself presented a “21-point peace plan” to Arab and Muslim leaders at the UN during a meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
"We had a very productive session. We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza,” Witkoff revealed, adding: “I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbours in the region.
"We're hopeful, and I might say, even confident that in the coming days, we'll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough.”
