Jimmy Carter Snubbed by Israeli Leaders
CBNNews.com
April 14, 2008
CBNNews - You might think the former U.S. president who helped negotiate the first Israeli-Arab peace treaty would get a warm welcome in Israel. But Jimmy Carter is getting anything but that in Israel this week.
During a visit to the rocket-beleaguered city of Sderot near the Gaza border, Carter condemned Palestinian Kassam rocket attacks on Israelis as a "despicable crime."
But his decision to meet later this week with Khaled Mashaal, the exiled leader of the party responsible for ongoing rocket attacks, has cooled Israel's acceptance of the one-time world leader.
Carter has been snubbed by the rest of Israel's leaders, as well as for his comparison of Israel's state policies to apartheid.
'A Very Big Mistake'
On Sunday, Israeli President Shimon Peres told Carter in no uncertain terms that the planned meeting with Hamas was "a very big mistake."
But the 83-year-old former president defended his reasons for wanting to engage Hamas, saying he feels "quite at ease" about the meeting.
Carter said that he intends to press Hamas for the return of three captured Israeli soldiers, as well as to push for a peace deal.
"I think there's no doubt in anyone's mind that if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process," Carter told ABC Sunday.
Sworn to Israel's Destruction
But Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction. The group has carried out dozens of suicide bombings that have killed more than 250 Israelis.
Israel has no contact with the Islamic terror group. Their violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June also prevented revived efforts by Israel and the Palestinians to strike a final peace deal.
Several Bush administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, have criticized Carter's plans to meet with Mashaal.
"The position of the government is that Hamas is a terrorist organization and we don't negotiate with terrorists. We think that's a very important principle to maintain," National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said. "The State Department made clear we think it's not useful for people to be running to Hamas at this point and having meetings."
Carter is not alone. He is among a group of U.S. critics who say shunning America's enemies is counterproductive.
Several months ago, a group of prominent former senior U.S. officials -- including Carter's own former national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski -- called on the US to engage in "genuine dialogue" with Hamas.
Meeting Set for Friday
In Syria, senior Hamas official Mohammed Nazzal has said Hamas "welcomes the request" from Carter to meet with Mashaal. He said the meeting would take place Friday.
Carter said the meeting would not be a negotiation. He outlined distinct goals.
"I think that it's very important that at least someone meet with the Hamas leaders to express their views, to ascertain what flexibility they have, to try to induce them to stop all attacks against innocent civilians in Israel, and to cooperate with the Fatah as a group that unites the Palestinians, maybe to get them to agree to a cease-fire - things of this kind," Carter said.
Carter is also scheduled to visit the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan during his Mideast tour. He will not visit Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Source: The Associated Press
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