Tony Blair has given his strongest hint yet that he will continue to work towards peace between Israel and Palestine after he leaves office.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, the Prime Minister expresses optimism that a breakthrough can be made in the weeks ahead.
But he also says that his interest in the region will outlast his Premiership, now in its final months.
In a pre-recorded interview, he said world leaders were agreed that Palestine was the single most important thing for world peace.
He added: "Our obligation is to put forward a peace process that can work and try and take that forward.
"And over the next few weeks I think there will be some real movement there."
Asked whether he will continue to work in the Middle East post-Downing Street, he said: "I will retain a huge interest in the peace process in Israel and Palestine in the years to come of course because it's so important.
"That's the reason why I've spent so long in my time in office (concentrating on the Middle East) and, incidentally, I am in the end optimistic that this thing can be done.
"But it requires a lot of hard work, a lot of commitment and it requires the international community as a whole to recognise that there is no more important issue for us to resolve than Israel/Palestine."
