Blair: Obama anxious about Israel's fate

Middle East envoy Tony Blair says Barack Obama launched his peace initiative because he's concerned about what might happen to Israel if Palestinians unilaterally declare statehood. Blair told an audience of business leaders gathered in central London on Thursday that Obama is "frankly worried about the position that Israel is in."

The ex-premier says that Obama's initiative - rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - is an "an attempt to fill a vacuum which he sees as dangerous, particularly dangerous for Israel in the run-up to September." (AP)