Tony Blair is heading to Jerusalem on his first visit to Israel in his role as an international envoy for the region.

Mr Blair hopes to defy sceptics who claim that the former British premier has taken on 'mission impossible' in his role to help bring stability after 60 years of peacemaking failures.

His two-day trip to the region began in the Jordanian capital Amman, where he met Foreign Minister Abdelelah al-Khatib before heading on to Jerusalem.

Jordan, with Egypt, is one of two Arab states with formal ties with Israel which are promoting an Arab peace proposal.

Mr Blair will meet Israel's foreign and defence ministers as well as US diplomats while in Jerusalem ahead of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in nearby Ramallah on Tuesday.