By DPA

Tony Blair, the Quartet's envoy to the Middle East, said he believes a Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement is possible by the end of the year, the British daily The Times reported Saturday.
"This is a deal that could definitely be done, and it could definitely be done this year," the former British prime minister said in an interview the paper published Saturday.
The most important thing, according to Blair, was to answer the question whether the Middle East was to become a moderate and modern region or one dominated by "a particular and exclusive and wrong-headed view of Islam and a major threat."

"There is nothing more important to world peace than resolving this question," he said.
Blair said he trusted in the peace efforts made by the United States.
"The American engagement in this has altered significantly both in quality and quantity in the past two months, there is no doubt about that," Blair said.
"I am unworried by the fact that it is President Bush's last year in office," he said. "Firstly, President Bush is immensely popular in Israel. Secondly, I did the Northern Ireland deal the month before I left."
The Quartet envoy also told The Times that a key issue was the creating of circumstances whereby Israelis "get confidence that their security concerns are being met and the Palestinians get confidence that the occupation will eventually be lifted."
Blair has taken on several advisory roles with investment banks alongside his Mideast activity.