Region | Palestinian Territories

Israeli minister tells Carter he would meet Hamas

An Israeli cabinet minister tells former US leader Jimmy Carter he is willing to meet Hamas leader Khalid Mesha'al.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 12:09 April 18, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Former US president Jimmy Carter holds up his hands in greeting to students before delivering a speech at the American University in Cairo on Thursday.
  • Image Credit: AP
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Occupied Jerusalem: In a move breaking government policy, an Israeli cabinet minister has offered to meet Hamas leader Khalid Mesha'al, his spokesman said on Friday.

Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai passed the proposal to former US president Jimmy Cater, who is planning to meet Mesha'al in Syria on Friday.

Yishai's spokesman, Roei Lachmanovich said the minister would ask Mesha'al for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held in Gaza.

Yishai's initiative comes after Carter, who is in a Middle East peace trip, said that the United States and Israel should stop isolating Hamas if they want peace efforts to succeed.

"I know there are some officials in the Israeli government that are quite willing to meet with Hamas and maybe that will happen in the near future," Carter said in Cairo on Thursday where he met with a Hamas delegation.

"One of the reasons I wanted to come and meet with the Syrians and Hamas was to set an example that might be emulated by others," he said.


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