Irene Lancaster's Diary

Tony Blair is guest of honour for first Gala Dinner of the Israeli-Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Last night I attended the reception and first gala dinner of the Israeli-Palesinian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Speeches were made by the Vice-Prime Minister, Silvan Shalom, Tony Blair and Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon.

The event started and finished with the choir of the Jewish-Arab Centre in Jaffa, who had just performed for the Pope. In 2007 I had taught music to members of the choir at the Church of Scotland School in Jaffa, and it was great meeting up again. The CEO of the IPC was amused to hear from them that they had learned such gems as 'Yellow Submarine' from me, as well as a potted history of Liverpool.

Mrs. Blair was photographed with the girls later.

The main speeches of the evening started with Mr. Shalom . He spoke about the importance of finding peace with the Palestinians, as well as with the rest of the Arab world. Economics and politics should work hand-in-hand, he stated. Moderate Arabs must be supported. He pledged that the Israeli government would work towards this goal, and asked for Tony Blair's assistance. 'Today' Mr. Shalom said, 'We are making history'.

After the hors d'oeuvres of salmon, aioli and roquette, Tony Blair took the stand. He spoke of a three-part project of economics, politics and security working hand-in-hand for bothy Israelis and Palestinians. The economic dimension, he feels, is critically important. The aim is 'transformative change', especially on the West Bank, where growth, jobs and higher living standards would be of enormous benefit. He also advocated a new approach to access and movement for Palestinians, which would especially help business people.

He said that it would be good if this approach could be extend to Gaza as well. However, he recognized the security issues which would be involved in such a move. He reiterated that economics and politics depend on each other. 

From his vast experience of different religions, cultures and ethnic groups all over the world, he had found that the great desire of all was to be awarded dignity and self-respect and to be dependant on no-one but oneself. 

This did not entail only an absence of violence, but also the dignity to shape one's own destiny. Economic growth and enterprise could play their part in the realisation of these aspirations. Business can transcend the divide. 

Mr. Blair had observed from the example of the Jewish-Arab Choir, as also at the Tel Aviv Award Ceremony the previous night, the importance of self-interest. One of the other award recipients had said that his prize money would go partially to pay off his mortgage. Self-interest is important. The majority of people would like peace and a better life for themselves and their families. Construction should triumph over destruction. 

The final speech was by Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon. He said: 'We shall never agree on narratives of history. We are now building a new narrative of the future - of peace, and the economic track will start without pre-conditions.' He pointed out the presence in the room of the Governor of the Bank of Israel.

And the next day, the American tourist using the neighbouring computer told me how lovely Cherie Blair had been to her when they had met in passing in the foyer.    

Tony Blair receives an award from the Dan David Foundation at Tel Aviv University

Last night we were waiting in the lobby for our daughter, when in walked Tony Blair with Cherie and entourage. She looked straight ahead. He responded to our greetings of 'Hi', with a lovely 'Hello'. Even reception was impressed.

The hotel is under new management and today the head of guest relations asked me if everything was in order. She apologized for all the nerves of yesterday, but apparently President Shimon Peres arrived in the afternoon, as well as the Mayor of Rome. Today, it's a famous Russian actress, and the Blair entourage are still here.

At Tel Aviv University last night, Mr. Blair received an award from the Dan David Foundation.

http://www.dandavidprize.org/

He is sharing this award between Africa and his former constituency in the North East of England. According to the wife of one of the other prize recipients, cosmologist Professor Paul Richards of Berkley in California, Mr. Blair will be giving half his award towards the purchase of DDT-impregnated nets for Africa, which will be distributed by churches, synagogues and mosques. This will go some way to eradicating malaria. The other half will be donated to minority and under-privileged children in his old constituency.

Meanwhile the wedding moves closer.

The Elusive Tony Blair

You could tell that Tony Blair was arriving, because today the entire hotel staff appeared to be on spilkes. I did tell them that it wasn't such a big thing. After all, Cherie did go to the school opposite me in Liverpool and would they feel like that about Netanyahu? Immediately they got the point and relaxed.

At breakfast Maria from 'guest relations' asked if everything was OK and escorted me up to my room. Apparently, the window to the balcony was in need of a fix and as 'mother of the bride' I was due wine, chocolates and fruit. I asked where she was from and she said 'Vladivostock'. She met her Israeli lawyer boy-friend in Thailand.

According to Maria, the hotel is full of Prime Ministers and Presidents from all over the world, though I haven't recognized anyone as yet. I am using the hotel facilities to write this blog, and one of Tony Blair's security team is seated next to me. We agreed that the weather was pretty hot and I explained what a sharav is!

Tomorrow is the daughter's hen night and some of the family are going up to wedding venue in the centre of the country in order to see to various things.

I shall have my early morning and late afternoon swims and take it very easy, thinking about the speech I am hoping to make on the big day.

And who knows, maybe Tony Blair will make an appearance sooner or later!

The most important question is not whether the Pope's visit was a success, but whether Tony Blair will attend our daughter's Israeli wedding

It's our daugher's wedding on Thursday, which is also Yom Yerushalyim (Jerusalem Day). What a great omen!

We've now been in Tel Aviv for a couple of days. The flight with KLM via Amsterdam was superb and my services as a translator were used ad hoc by security (what a joke)!

In Tel Aviv, the Dan Hotel has offered a very special deal, and the views of the Mediterranean from the King David Lounge are unparalleled. However, the weather is hotting up tomorrow (36 centigrade is forecast).

Maybe that's because Tony Blair is coming here to receive an award and is staying in our hotel. It appears that Cherie is here already!

How do I know? An American plonked himself down opposite me this afternoon and asked where I was from. When I told him, he asked me if I was with the Tony Blair contingent. Naturally I took this whole question with a pinch of salt, but he was a doctor from New Jersey, after all. So I trotted along to reception and they confirmed the veracity of the statement.

So if I see Tony around I will of course invite him to our daughter's wedding. After all, the venue is so out of the way that only the most seasoned terrorist would waste their time trying their worst, and probably get lost in the process (together with quite a few of the guests, I fear).

Will keep you posted.

Interfaith relations in the modern age

The BBC has appointed a Muslim to be in charge of their Religion and Ethics unit. Ruth Gledhill of The Times has blogged on this here:

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2009/05/muslim-appointed-head-of-religion-at-bbc.html

On Sunday, The BBC's religion and ethics programme, The Big Questions, came from Bury Grammar School. The questions ranged from data protection, through surrogate mothers to how the media portrays religions and religious leaders. The whole thing was rather fraught, so I made a point about Jewish humour and also mentioned that all religions and groups have humour. Humour is a good way to deal with the insults received by the various religions against their idea of God:

At the end I was thanked for this input by two young female Muslim members of the audience. You can see the whole thing here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007zpll

The importannce of religion was highlighted this week by the Pope's presence in Israel. The Times has dissected by the speech he made in Jerusalem. Much was made of the suffering of Christians in Israel.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6261820.ece

However, the Catholic Tablet has rightly stated that Haifa is a beacon of race and religious relations, probably the best place for inter-ethnic harmony in the whole Middle East. Certainly, all the groups living in that city seem to get on very well and December is the time to celebrate each other's festivals. I can't access the article by Anshel Pfeffer online, but here is a link to the current edition.

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/13054

Meanwhile, another very powerful blog by Ruth Gledhill on the visit, here:

http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2009/05/jews-christians-and-muslims-write-open-letters-to-pope.html

Today,  I've been asked to organised a visit to our synagogue by a local church group, complete with kiddush and there is also an invite for Jews and Christians to a local mosque in Bury.

These are only ripples - but ripples do grow into waves and who knows - maybe, in the not too distant future, Christians, Jews and Muslims from the Greater Manchester area might take a trip to Haifa and the north, possibly the most beautiful part of Israel, which we're also trying to plan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haifa

There they will be able to see for themselves just how all the different groups which make up the Israeli patchwork quilt actaully do get along with each other.