Carter offers to be go-between

Airport City: Former US president Jimmy Carter has said he is ready to act as a "communicator" between Hamas and the US and Israel, ahead of Tuesday meetings with Palestinian leaders.

On Monday Carter said isolating Hamas was counterproductive to peace efforts, but this has upset the Israeli government, who regard Hamas as a terrorist group.

Earlier, Carter visited the Israeli town of Sderot, the target of thousands of rockets fired by Palestinian fighters from Gaza.

Carter said the attacks were a "despicable crime". The visit however, does not appear to have appeased senior Israeli leaders.

Analysts say he is being snubbed by Israel because he plans to meet Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.