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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. (Reuters)
Last update - 20:48 09/04/2008
Report: Ex-U.S. president Carter to meet with Hamas leader in Syria
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Hamas, Jimmy Carter 

The U.S. news network Fox reported Wednesday that former U.S. president Jimmy Carter is planning to meet exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal in Damascus in 10 days.

Carter's press secretary Deanna Congileo confirmed the report that the former president is planning a trip to Damascus, first published by the London-based Arabic-language daily Al Hayat, and did not deny a possible meeting with the Hamas leader.

"President Carter is planning a trip to the Mideast next week; however, we are still confirming details of the trip and will issue a press release by the end of this week," wrote Congileo. "I cannot confirm any specific meetings at this point in time."
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The planned meeting between the former president and the leader of Hamas, a militant group classified by Israel and the U.S. as a terrorist organization, has drawn harsh criticism among American officials. Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton criticized Carter's judgment, calling the move "typical" and saying that "to go to Syria to visit Hamas at this point is just an ill-timed, ill-advised decision on his part."

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack once said of the prospect of meeting with Meshal, "that's not something that we could possibly conceive of," Fox reported.

In 2006, Carter sparked a heated debate with the release of his book "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid" published by Simon & Schuster. In this book Carter argues that "Israel's continued control and colonization of Palestinian land have been the primary obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East."

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      1.   If Carter wishes to become a member of Hamas 21:14  |  Murray of Montreal 09/04/08
      2.   Obama/Carter 08....?????? 21:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/04/08
      3.   ITS ABOUT TIME 21:51  |  JOHNJ 09/04/08
      4.   Mr Carter, how much lower than "The worst President of US in Hist 21:52  |  Massoud Levy 09/04/08
      5.   Mr Carter, how much lower than "The worst President of US in Hist 21:53  |  Massoud Levy 09/04/08
      6.   Carter can meet anyone he wants. 21:57  |  James 09/04/08
      7.   about time (RE:Murray) 22:02  |  tim 09/04/08
      8.   What do you expect from Carter? 22:06  |  Sam 09/04/08
      9.   Cater is beyond Zionist control 22:10  |  Boycott 09/04/08
      10.   #7 Tim, Who is Robert? 22:18  |  Murray of Montreal 09/04/08
      11.   Isn`t it against the law 22:25  |  Igor 09/04/08
      12.   Well, is it Barak Obama concept? 22:26  |  Buzaglow 09/04/08
      13.   revoke Carter`s passport once he leaves the country 22:26  |  vik 09/04/08
      14.   But of course! 22:27  |  IW 09/04/08
      15.   Perfect Symmetry 22:34  |  SMF 09/04/08
      16.   It reminds me of the emissaries.. 22:36  |  Buzaglow II 09/04/08
      17.   Ex-U.S. president Carter to meet with Hamas leader in Syria 22:46  |  Marcellino 09/04/08
      18.   hey tim: 22:46  |  Lawrence 09/04/08
      19.   Still hasn`t gotten over 22:51  |  Lynn 09/04/08
      20.   Bravo Jimmy! First that path breaking book,now this! 23:08  |  lakshmi 09/04/08
      21.   Of course it makes more fun to "chat" with your buddies....... 23:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/04/08
      22.   A New Book? "Jihad is peace not apartheid" 23:19  |  PETER SM 09/04/08
      23.   Report: Ex-U.S. president Carter 23:21  |  Mr Carlos J Perez 09/04/08
      24.   Carter is a wise and wonderful man. 23:24  |  Deborah 09/04/08
      25.   Jimmy, we love & trust u, keep up the good work & righteous path! 23:32  |  Kelly 09/04/08
      26.   Carter`s visit to Syria 23:32  |  Ruth haskal 09/04/08
      27.   he is not good for us 23:33  |  drdanielito 09/04/08
      28.   A real anti-semite 23:44  |  salty 09/04/08
      29.   Reply to Massoud Levy #3, #4 23:54  |  AVI 09/04/08
      30.   Murray (#10) 00:00  |  tim 10/04/08
      31.   Carter`s 15 minutes 00:12  |  Ron 10/04/08
      32.   Carter reportedly to announce support of Barack Hussein Obama. 00:17  |  no surprise here 10/04/08
      33.   Bush`s Head Remains up Olmert`s Arse, While Carter Takes Action! 00:26  |  Mr. Know-It-All 10/04/08
      34.   Jimmy Carter Loves the Enemies of Israel 00:38  |  Chana Jacobsen 10/04/08
      35.   I dream of this 00:38  |  Ricardo 10/04/08
      36.   US gov`t should bar Carter from taking Secret Service to Syria 01:03  |  Dr. L. Brnd 10/04/08
      37.   ANTIESMIET 01:09  |  AHIMAAZ 10/04/08
      38.   God bless Jimmy Carter! 01:13  |  Maureen Ann 10/04/08
      39.   keel over already! 01:15  |  Brandon 10/04/08
      40.   # 2 Swiss...anyone with half a brain, 01:22  |  Lynn 10/04/08
      41.   # 32 One reason to NOT vote for Obama 01:23  |  Lynn 10/04/08
      42.   The Right To Talk 01:27  |  Jack Olson 10/04/08
      43.   we love u jimmy cater, a righteous man indeed 01:29  |  musa 10/04/08
      44.   You are all missing the boat 01:55  |  Pepe 10/04/08
      45.   Carter must be out of his mind 02:05  |  Brod 10/04/08
      46.   # 29 Avi, let`s blame the spharadic and the gipsies 02:10  |  dan 10/04/08
      47.   Carter`s Visit 02:11  |  Bill 10/04/08
      48.   #8 Sam, GWB has done for more for Iran 02:22  |  Aphemia 10/04/08
      49.   Dealer-wealer... Ha! 02:22  |  American 10/04/08
      50.   #30 Brits prove Irish could gain more form peace 02:28  |  no later than six 10/04/08
      51.   carter kissing meshal`s cheek? #1 02:44  |  vs 10/04/08
      52.   contribution of carter 02:48  |  vs 10/04/08
      53.   jimmy carter 02:53  |  azad 10/04/08
      54.   # 34 Lynn 02:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/04/08
      55.   Carter and Hamas 03:13  |  Bruce 10/04/08
      56.   #29 Ibrahim - Avi RE Massoud 03:27  |  MR 10/04/08
      57.   A Waste Of Time 03:37  |  Yosemite 10/04/08
      58.   Might as well meet Ahmadinejad and Chavez 03:53  |  Ken 10/04/08
      59.   I desagree with this trip to Syria 03:55  |  Samy 10/04/08
      60.   Peanuts 03:59  |  Avrum 10/04/08
      61.   they found the rube who will provide them with a fig leaf. 04:21  |  ralph 10/04/08
      62.   Carter, speaking with the enemy 04:29  |  yuval 10/04/08
      63.   For meeting with Meshal,charge him with treason 04:38  |  Shepherd 10/04/08
      64.   32 no surprise here&24 Deborah, 04:46  |  lakshmi 10/04/08
      65.   Which begs the obvious question, of course 04:50  |  Johnboy 10/04/08
      66.   #45 Swiss(Dino) - Not in the US, and Not Without Reason 05:10  |  JP 10/04/08
      67.   #44 Does America care about world opinion? 05:12  |  John Allen 10/04/08
      68.   My full and unconditional support goes to Jimmy Carter 05:15  |  Nick Ferriman 10/04/08
      69.   why this guy is not in the nursing home? 05:27  |  m 10/04/08
      70.   Jimminy Crickets - ole man Carter..... 05:28  |  Mary 10/04/08
      71.   You go Jimmy! Good for you ! 05:36  |  betz55 10/04/08
      72.   Diplomacy Gives Bad Palestinians The Rationale For Terror 05:36</