Nov. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can help promote coexistence among followers of Islam and non-Muslims, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said.

``Resolving the Middle East peace process and bringing about an independent, viable state of Palestine alongside a secure state of Israel is one vital element,'' Blair wrote in today's International Herald Tribune newspaper. ``It can be done.''

Blair, envoy for the Middle East peace Quartet comprising the U.S., Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, said education is key to promoting dialogue and understanding.

``We also need to engage with the issue of education -- what we teach, what is learned, what is communicated about one another,'' Blair said. ``Some of this happens within schools and universities. But much of it happens within the faith communities themselves.''

The former prime minister's comments come amid this week's interfaith conference initiated by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah and held in New York at United Nations headquarters. The meeting is aimed at promoting dialogue and deepening understanding among people of different religions and cultures to help them face global challenges and common problems.

Blair said the conference ``is a major step forward in the long march to a relationship between Islam and other faiths that is not one of confrontation or distrust but of peaceful coexistence.''

The two-day conference started Nov. 11. The agenda included speeches by Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai, Israeli President Shimon Peres, Jordan's King Abdullah, Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.

To contact the reporter on this story: Massoud A. Derhally in Amman, Jordan, at mderhally@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 13, 2008 05:59 EST