If Olmert and Abbas are getting it together it has more to do with Blair than Sarkozy. He has been praised by all sides for his diplomatic negotiating skills. And you should not so easily accept all that is pumped out by M Sarkozy’s press department. M Sarkozy has his own agenda.

You will notice that Mr Blair says little about his ME negotiations. That is the RIGHT way to do it. You do not make friends and influence people by prattling on about how clever you are.

M Sarkozy is, possibly, for reasons best known to himself, keen to move the centre of Europe southwards. That would leave Britain, the Dutch, Belgians and Scandinavians isolated. All long-standing members of the EU. Where is Sarkozy’s loyalty then?

He knows which European country has the greatest influence in the world, particularly with America, and it isn’t France. His new alliance is unlikely to work. He cannot create a new workable entity of 40 odd states in and around Europe and Africa excluding Britain and others (notably Germany - as it does not have a Mediterranean shoreline) without creating waves through the 27 EU countries not included.

Are you really that easily taken in that you think that Olmert had no other reason for saying that they had never been so close to an agreement? He too has his own position to think of. The police cannot arrest a man who is about to settle a centuries old conflict now, can they?

Watch Blair, not Sarkozy for peace in the Middle East.