Everything that Mr Carter is doing is correct. He is attempting to talk to two groups of people who are essentially stuck in a rut. Neither group wishes to lose face or to be seen as the 'defeated' party. So rather than continue the medieval spectacle of reprisal following reprisal Carter is attempting to negociate. And that does involve negociating with Hamas, because hamas was elected by the people in Gaza and is therefore legitimate.

Hamas is the largest and most influential Palestinian militant movement. In January 2006, the group won the Palestinian Authority's (PA) general legislative elections, defeating Fatah, the party of the PA's president, Mahmoud Abbas, and setting the stage for a power struggle. Hamas maintained a cease-fire brokered in March 2005 until June 9, 2006, when it ended the truce after reports that errant Israeli shell killed several civilians on a Gaza beach. The Israeli Defense Forces later denied responsibility for the deaths. Historically, Hamas has sponsored an extensive social service network. In Arabic, the word "hamas" means zeal. But it's also an Arabic acronym for "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement. In addition to its military wing, the so-called Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade, Hamas devotes much of its estimated $70-million annual budget to an extensive social services network. It funds schools, orphanages, mosques, healthcare clinics, soup kitchens, and sports leagues. "Approximately 90 percent of its work is in social, welfare, cultural, and educational activities," writes the Israeli scholar Reuven Paz. The Palestinian Authority often fails to provide such services; Hamas's efforts in this area—as well as a reputation for honesty, in contrast to the many Fatah officials accused of corruption—help to explain the broad popularity it summoned to defeat Fatah in the PA's recent elections.

they don't lie. If Carter can produce them. Fine - othere than that's he's just full of shit.

Jimmy Carter had all the facts in front of him when he wrote "Israel-Apatheid not peace". Facts do not change his mind that Israel is evil, that Jews are evil. He is well paid by the Saudi for that. He is guilty of the situation in Iran which his policies have created. He got nowhere with appeasement and projecting weakness. He does not understand the Middle East, culture, religion and the Palestinian-Arab-Muslim propaganda machine that uses him to achieve their goals. He should talk with Amy again.

born in the original sin of dispossessing the original Palestinian inhabitants of the land. Their self defense, however feeble, is enshrined in every law known to man. Even a well intentioned, though misguided, Jimmy Carter should know that.

where do you get your information? (its wrong)

Sixty-four percent of Israelis say the government must hold direct talks with the Hamas government in Gaza toward a cease-fire and the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit. Less than one-third (28 percent) still opposes such talks. The figures were obtained in a Haaretz-Dialog poll conducted in February 2008 under the supervision of Professor Camil Fuchs of Tel Aviv University. According to the findings, Israelis are fed up with seven years of Qassam rockets falling on Sderot and the communities near Gaza, as well as the fact that Shalit has been held captive for more than a year and a half. An increasing number of public figures, including senior officers in the Israel Defense Forces' reserves, have expressed similar positions on talks with Hamas. It now appears that this opinion is gaining traction in the wider public, which until recently vehemently rejected such negotiations.

Jimmy Carter in this case is a representative of the Elders organization, trying to help solve international conflicts. http://www.theelders.org/elders/ I say, let's give them a chance! If they can get ANY positive results in this conflict, let us be very, very grateful to them...

for his next book. He simply needs the money. Causing uproar around his name and acts will guaranty better sales of his next book. The only service that Carter does by visiting Israel`s enemies is self service. Don`t buy his books. He does not deserve it.

Hamas and Iran are not natural partners. Hamas are Sunnis. Unlike the Hezbollah, who are Shiites and are natural partners with the Iranians, Hamas is not. Nevertheless, they are fighting, as they see it, for their survival. In those circumstances they will accept assistance from whoever will give it to them. The fact that they are Shiites will not prevent accepting help. However, there is no evidence to show that they have accepted help on terms that make them subservient to Iran. When Iran tried to organize a meeting to protest the U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference last November, Hamas refused to attend, forcing the Iranians to cancel their plans.

Because Meshaal lives outside the Palestinian territories, Meshal is not confined by the travel restrictions Israel has put on other Hamas leaders. He is able to serve as Hamas' top diplomat, traveling to and negotiating with other nations. Seen as charismatic and possessing diplomatic skills, Meshal is "welcomed with open arms in various capitals and he's seen as a legitimate political actor," Since Hamas' electoral victory in January 2006, Meshal has served as its representative in talks with the Egyptian and Russian governments, as well as the Arab League. He even met with a group of retired U.S. diplomats in February. Following that meeting, Edward Peck, a former ambassador to Iraq, told The Times of London that Meshal seemed to be "moderate in many senses" and "entirely rational."

"Original sin?" Sorry that's a Christian concept, not a Jewish one. Go cause problems somewhere else.

Quite possibly, Noam Gilad Shalit's family may be some of the select few Israeli people that wanted to see the Carter even set foot on Israeli soil since announcing his visit to arch terrorist Mashaal. Nice email address poster #5, especially the 'Morons" part. How long did that take for you to spell correctly?

We have Jimmy 'Jew Hater' Carter touring the Negev spouting crocodile tears for the folks down there. Then we have Shimon Peres criticizing the peanut farmer's anti Israeli comments – funny coming from someone who found fit to pardon the murderers of a young Israeli boy. The boy's crime? he was a Jew living in Israel. Noam Shalit is a man among men. HE should take Olmert’s AND Shimon’s job. He’d do a far far better job than the pair of them put together.

They are so weak and inaccurate. Hopefully after my meeting with mashaal, the world will give hamas more money so they can buy better rockets and kill more Jews in kindergartens and old-age homes.

I don't know where you read about that poll, but I don't know any Israeli supporting talks with Hamas. Most people I know are also skeptical about Abu-Mazzen. Oh, and yes, I am not a right wing settler, ultrareligious or anything of the kind. I am a secular person living in Israel proper (although you might have your reservations about my occupying even a single grain of sand in the land of my ancestors). Yes, we are fed up with Qassams, i.e. we are fed up with terror and we want it uprooted, not appeased. Yes, we want Shalit back, but we also want Ron Arad, Udi Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Does that mean we should commit collective suicide by allowing an old decrepit fart to handle our affairs?

when they have successfully solved the conflicts in Tibet and Darfur they may offer their advice on the Israeli-Arab conflict. Until then, their presence is not required on these shores, as in "Don't call us, we'll call you!"

So Meshal seemed to be "moderate in many senses"? Such as a "moderate" terrorist? Well, thank heavens he is not a fanatic! Boy, you set my mind at ease. As to being "entirely rational", let me assure you that if you decide to pay a visit to a mental health facility, perhaps 50% of the patients will come across as "entirely rational", with legitimate claims and ordinary life stories. Which does not mean that "entirely rational" as they may sound they should be set loose on the unexpecting populace. Not only are they a danger to the general public, they are also a danger to themselves as well.

he understand nothing... and i think he is a moron.

Very "interesting" logic... First , Hamas IS the reason the Gazans are suffering. According to your twisted logic, it is ok for Hamas to launch missiles into Israeli cities to kill as many civilians as possible, because they are giving food to their people. To have the missile launching offset by their "good deeds" is absurd. I guess based on this sick logic, if i robbed a bank, killed all the employees and gave 90% of the money i stole to my brother to buy groceries i am a hero, right????? you are all sick bastards!!!!

The 'process' is what he thinks is important. Not the fact that the Arabs have not fulfilled any of their obligations. Not the fact that there state their goal is our destruction. Not the fact that every single death or injury is caused by war crimes committed by Arabs. Only the 'process' is of any importance to him, because if it continues then his chance of seeing us dead continues.

Administrative detention is detention without charge or trial, authorized by administrative order rather than by judicial decree. It is allowed under international law, but, because of the serious injury to due process rights inherent in this measure and the obvious danger of abuse, international law has placed rigid restrictions on its application. Administrative detention is intended to prevent the danger posed to state security by a particular individual. Israel, however, has never defined the criteria for what constitutes "state security." In 1998, the number of Palestinians held in administrative detention began to gradually decline. From 1999 to October 2001, the average number was less than twenty. The legal basis for holding administrative detainees remained the same, however. This enabled Israel to steadily increase the use of administrative detention after October 2001. This trend increased greatly during and after Operation Defensive Shield. By the beginning of March 2003, Israel held more than one thousand Palestinians in administrative detention. In 2007, Israel held a monthly average of 830 administrative detainees, which was one hundred higher than in 2006.

The people you mentioned were all in the army / airforce. Surely one of the 'hazards' of being in the army is that you may be killed or captured. Think off all the Palestinian (children included) who are wollowing in israeli goals without even being charged. Where is the justice in that?

Carter was the worst president I ever voted for. He should stay on his peanut farm and leave us alone.

In 1987, the Arabs living in the territories occupied by Israeli in the 6-Day war began a series of riots known as the Intifadeh, a movement quite independent from PLO leadership. Soon after, Islamic militants founded the Hamas movement. The movement was formed from the Mujama movement, which had been a political party with no military ambitions that was given some encouragement by Israel earlier in the decade, as a means of countering the influence of the PLO, and because the opposition of the Hamas to an international conference that would adjudicate the problem of Palestine, coincided with the policies of the Begin and Shamir governments.

So does that mean you don't require anybody's help? That's like the "you can't work without work experience", but how are you to get experience?

Israel assassinated the leaders, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Sheikh Ahmed Rantissi, forcing the leadership underground. However, in January of 2006, candidates representing the Hamas swept to victory in Palestinian elections, overcoming the traditional leadership of the Fateh and PLO.

Well, there are rules concerning the detention of military personnel, such as our abducted soldiers. The terrorist organizations conveniently ignore them. What Palestinian children? 14 -year old hooligans (or sadly, mentally challenged) dispatched to stab soldiers at checkpoints or blow themselves up in Israeli public places? They are lucky to be alive. Luckier than any Israeli child or adult unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity (or within shooting range) of a Palestinian "freedom fighter", "militant", "member of the resistance"... Because I couldn't possibly imagine that you consider sick Palestinian children treated in Israeli hospitals as "detained".

Richard, you are regurgitating the same old stuff over and over again. It's becoming boring and pathetic. #27 - Israel is a sovereign UN member state. Nobody can meddle in our internal affairs especially when we are not interested. We have means of communication, you know, cell phones, internet, etc. When we want someone's help, we'll ask for it. But I think I can hear Tibet's call for help, that's why I suggested they concentrate their efforts on that crisis. But then the Chinese might unceremoniously kick their elderly asses.