Region | Egypt
Carter defends meetings with Hamas
Former US president Jimmy Carter plans to meet Hamas leader Khalid Mesha'al despite US and Israeli criticism.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:28 April 18, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Former US president Jimmy Carter contends the US, Israel and other Western states should stop isolating Hamas if they want peace efforts to succeed.
Cairo: Former US president Jimmy Carter plans to meet exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mesha'al in Syria on Friday as part of a series of talks with the Palestinian group.
Hamas spokesman Taher Nuhu said that the meeting with Carter would be "a recognition of the legitimacy" of Hamas' victory in the Palestinians' parliamentary election in 2006.
Carter has already met a Hamas delegation from Gaza and has spoken with Hamas officials in the West Bank. He angered Israelis when he embraced one of them.
The United States had objected to Carter meeting Hamas, but the former US leader defended his plans, saying he feels "quite at ease".
Carter contends the US, Israel and other Western states should stop isolating Hamas if they want peace efforts to succeed.
"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," he said.
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