Plan to Make Blair an Envoy a 'Done Deal'

June 26, 2007— -- A plan to make outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair the chief Mideast envoy of the so-called Quartet of Mideast peacemakers is a "done deal," an aide to Blair tells ABC News. An announcement could come as early as today.

The Quartet is meeting today in Jerusalem to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian situation. It is the first meeting of the group since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.

The Quartet is made up of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

"Blair's appointment has been 150 percent approved," anunidentified official was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

Blair and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met Tuesday to discuss the trans-Atlanticbattle against global warming.

The pair held breakfast talks at 10 Downing St. in Blair's finalmeeting with a foreign official before he steps down as Britain'sprime minister Wednesday.

Blair would not confirm the pending appointment but did talk of his commitment to Mideast peace.

In Washington, two U.S. officials said the proposal could bevoted on as soon as Tuesday, with a formal announcement soonthereafter.

But one official said Moscow was balking at namingBlair to the post. They spoke on condition of anonymity because ofthe sensitivity of the negotiations.

President Bush has strongly backed Blair for the newjob, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed supportfor the idea that Blair could play a role in the Middle East.

However, the Financial Times said Gordon Brown, who will succeedBlair as prime minister, is described as unhappy with the proposalbecause it would distract from his plans to use economic incentivesto promote reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

ABC News' Jim Sciutto and The Associated Press contributed to this report.