The Quartet on the Middle East is a group of nations and international organisations concerned with bringing about an agreed settlement in the conflict over Israel and Palestine. Its five representatives comprise the United Nations, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Russia. Since June 2007, its 'Special Envoy' to the Middle East has been former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; given his role in the U.S.-led Iraq War, this appointment has been strongly criticised, particularly in Russia and the Middle East region.[1][2]