TONY Blair's feisty sister-in-law has challenged him in his role as the international community's Middle East peace envoy to "show some guts" and visit the Gaza Strip to witness the suffering of its people in person.
Lauren Booth, a journalist, broadcaster and half-sister of Cherie Blair, is among about 40 civilian activists from 12 countries who plan to sail in two boats from Cyprus to Gaza in coming days.
Organisers from the Free Gaza Movement say the aim i
s to break Israel's "absolutely illegal siege" of the poverty-stricken Palestinian territory and set a precedent that will establish a permanent sea-link to Gaza.
Ms Booth, 41, told The Scotsman: "I went to Palestine in 2005 and what I saw changed my life and I'd do anything to help the starving and impoverished people of Gaza."
Israel, whose navy polices a self-declared "special security zone" off Gaza's coastline, has not indicated how it will respond to the challenge but the peace activists fear their mission will face intimidation and disruption from Israeli gun-boats.
"This is the first trip going to Palestine and I am quite nervous," Ms Booth said. She added: "I'd like to say to him (Blair], if I've got the guts to go you should have the honour to go. Show some guts. You're supposed to be representing these people (Palestinians] as well. Lip-service to the suffering of the Gazans without witnessing it at first hand makes a mockery of his (Mr Blair's] role."
Mr Blair is the peace envoy for the Quartet – the United States, Russia, the European Union and United Nations – and is mandated with mobilising international assistance to the Palestinians and helping their economic development.
He has yet to visit Gaza, after calling off a trip there at the 11th hour last month following warnings of an imminent Palestinian attack.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, insisted it had done its utmost to ensure Mr Blair's security and accused Israel of sabotaging his visit in order to keep the territory isolated and under pressure.
Israeli officials denied they objected to Mr Blair travelling to Gaza.
To date, Mr Blair has centred almost all of the economic projects of his Mid-East mission on the West Bank, which is ruled by Mahmoud Abbas, the moderate Palestinian president.
Non-governmental organisations have also criticised Mr Blair for doing little to ease Israel's economic blockade of Gaza's 1.4 million Palestinians.
The rest of the passengers due to sail from Cyprus to Gaza range in age from 22 to 83, speak 12 languages between them and include teachers, doctors, journalists, musicians and an 81-year-old Catholic nun from the United States.
Both captains of the two boats, the Free Gaza and the Liberty, are Irish. Among the passengers are 12 Americans, two Israelis and seven Britons, including two Scots.
Andrew Muncie, 34, from Glasgow, has philosophy degrees from Aberdeen and Edinburgh universities .
He visited the West Bank in 2003 and says the world is ignoring the "injustice" endured by Palestinians and the "catastrophe" that has befallen them.
He told The Scotsman: "I'm apprehensive about what measures the Israelis may take to prevent us reaching Gaza, but that goes with the territory."
Because the boats will not pass through Israeli waters, organisers argue Israel has no right to stop them.
Among the passengers is Mary Hughes Thompson, a screenwriter based in California who wrote Olive Orchards and Armed Zealots in 2002 about her experience as part of the International Solidarity Movement when she was attacked by settlers.
The expedition is arranging for Cypriot authorities to inspect the two boats before they sail to confirm they are carrying only unarmed civilians on a human rights mission.
Organisers say there will be nothing more dangerous on board than 5,000 biodegradable balloons proclaiming "Free Gaza" and 200 hearing aids for Palestinian children who have been exposed to the sonic booms of Israeli warplanes making daily over-flights. However, Ms Booth believes there is little chance of making it to Gaza. "Politically, it would mean the end of the blockade and I can't see Israel allowing it to happen," she said.
Matthew Doyle, a spokesman for Mr Blair, declined to speak about Ms Booth's comments.
In an e-mailed response, he wrote: "Mr Blair had to postpone his planned visit to Gaza 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 both to meet regularly with people from Gaza and work to improve conditions there."
• Additional reporting: Isobel Spaven-Donn
The full article contains 800 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
