The former British prime minister Tony Blair, now an envoy to the Middle East, was branded “a terrorist” by a Palestinian protester while on a visit to the West Bank.

The protesters’ raucous calls echoed through the hall where he was visiting Hebron.

Guards pushed the protester into a corner and “tried to shut him up,” according to a news report of the incident.

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Blair bushed off the protester, saying, “He made his protest. That’s fair enough. I think it’s important for you guys as well not always to mistake the protests for the general view of the whole population. I think people here want to see this issue resolved.”

The Sydney Morning Herald has more details here.

Blair has faced criticism in the Arab world for his support of the US-led invasion of Iraq and what Palestinians see as his favoritism toward Israel in any peace talks.

This video is from ITN, broadcast Oct. 20, 2009.

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