Jimmy Carter: Palestinians live in a 'cage'

Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that Palestinians are "living in a cage" in Gaza and that Hamas must be included in all major efforts for peace.

Carter was in Syria with an international group of veteran statesmen known as the Elders, which includes Ireland's former President Mary Robinson.

"We believe that Hamas should be included in all the major efforts to peace ... It is part of the Palestinian people," Carter said. He added that "1.5 million Palestinians are held in a cage or prison while their human rights are taken away."

Israel imposed its blockade of Gaza, a densely populated coastal strip along Israel's southwest border, following Hamas' violent takeover in June 2007. The rival Palestinian faction Fatah, led by Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, controls the West Bank.

Carter's remarks came as reconciliation talks between the two Palestinian factions were postponed Tuesday.

Hamas did not give a reason for the postponement but said in a statement that Fatah officials have said they will not attend talks slated for Wednesday.

A Fatah official said they had suggested to Hamas the talks be held in Lebanon but the rivals insisted on Damascus. The Fatah official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

During a meeting in Syria last month, the factions announced they have agreed on steps to reconcile and they scheduled a meeting for this week in Damascus.

Hamas said a new date will be announced.

Deep divisions among Palestinian groups remain. On Tuesday, nine Damascus-based groups that oppose Abbas denounced his recent comments, which said Palestinians would be willing to end all historic claims against Israel if a Palestinian state is established on lands captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

The factions, including Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, said such remarks "pose a dangerous violation of all Palestinian rights."

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