Carter: Hamas, Syria must be involved in peace negotiations
Former US president stands by decision to meet with Hamas leader Mashaal. 'My hope is that we can induce Palestinians to agree to ceasefire,' he says
Carter has drawn fire from US and Israeli officials over reports that he plans to meet exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus later this week. "I'll be meeting with all the factions of the Palestinians, which is also controversial, I know," Carter said.
In Washington the White House said Carter did not represent the United States in his Mideast tour, and that he was acting in a private capacity. President George W. Bush "is not a supporter of having conversations with Hamas, and we have made that known," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Moving for ceasefire
Carter stressed he was on a fact-finding tour for the Carter Center, but said he hoped his trip would have a positive influence on the Middle East peace process. "My hope is, although I'm not in a negotiation or mediation role, that we can induce the Palestinians, all of them, to have a ceasefire, and move toward justice and peace," he told an audience of a few hundred business people.
He said that while he did not know whether Hamas and Syria would be "amenable to any suggestion," he should at least be able to pass on their views to US leaders.
And, he added, pointedly, "I hope that by then the leaders of the Israeli government will deign to meet me."
A Hamas spokesman in Gaza said Carter was expected to meet Mashaal in Damascus over the weekend. "It will be the opportunity for Hamas to clarify its position and break the policy of isolation imposed by the United States, and Israel, along with others, against Hamas," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP. "That is why Israel is exercising pressure to try to prevent this meeting."
Carter's plans to meet Hamas leaders have also drawn short shrift from his fellow Democrats on the White House campaign trail. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both called Hamas a "terrorist organization" that should remain isolated until it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.
Earlier on Monday, Carter toured the rocket-battered town of Sderot, and dubbed the Qassam firing from Gaza "a despicable crime". The former president arrived in Israel on Sunday, and held talks with President Shimon Peres before meeting the parents of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. He is scheduled to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Salim Fayyad in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday. The nine-day regional tour will also take Carter to Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
