Tony Blair met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon today as the Britsh prime minister continued his push for Middle East Peace. Blair will also meet with Palestinian leaders in Ramallah including Mahmoud Abbas, the front runner to succeed the late Yasser Arafat as President of the Palestinian Authority.

Blair indicated that democracy in a new Palestinian state was an important and necessary component for the success of the peace process. He also indicated that an end to the widespread corruption the PA had under Mr. Arafat was an obstacle to foreign aid for the Palestinians.

'Viability cannot just be about territory. The viability has to be that of a state that is democratic, that is not giving any succor or help to terrorism and that uses the help that it is given from the outside in a proper and transparent way,' Blair said.

Sharon joined Blair in a call for an end to terrorism. 'I believe that if the terror will come to its end, the door will be open for the Roadmap, which will change I believe, the life of the Israelis, the Palestinians and change the situation in the region.'

Blair is planning a conference in London next February which he says is designed to prepare the Palestinians for peace by helping them to carry out needed reforms. Israel said it supports the conference but will not send a delegation.

Blair said that the London Conference 'is not and cannot be a substitute for the conferences under the 'road map' or what then happens in any negotiation that takes place at a later stage. But, what it can do, I hope, is ensure there are plans and proposals in place to allow the Palestinian side to become a proper partner for peace with Israel.'

Blair also restated the obvious, 'There is not going to be any successful negotiation or peace without an end to terrorism,' he said.

Despite the difficult odds, Blair continues to press on for the cause of peace between Arabs and Israelis. He believes that the recent death of Yasser Arafat presents a new opportunity for peace in the region.