Carter's move is encouraging

For some, former US president Jimmy Carter's recent meeting with Hamas officials was a major mistake. Yet for the pragmatic few, it represents a measured step towards peace and should be taken seriously.

This is because the alternative to open negotiations is simply too depressing. Since the "staged" Annapolis meeting late last year there has been a freezing of all meaningful negotiations between the two sides and instead, a dramatic deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Territories.

Carter's peace proposal, which was brought about following his four-hour meeting with exiled Hamas leader Khalid Mesha'al, rests on the conviction that there can be no successful "peace plan" unless all sides, including Hamas, are present at the negotiating table.

As part of the deal, Israel and the Islamist resistance group would adopt a truce and enter talks on prisoner exchange. Carter has also said that Hamas is willing to let Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "represent them" in all direct negotiations with the Israelis.

While it is too early to determine the details of Carter's proposal, it is indeed very encouraging to see the experienced negotiator bring attention to a stalled conflict. Moreover, it is hoped that this initiative will not only highlight the desperate conditions of the Palestinians, but also move everyone in the direction of real peace.