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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad in Damascus on Friday. (Reuters)
Last update - 20:26 20/04/2008
Meshal to announce decision over Carter truce proposals Sunday
By News Agencies and Haaretz Service
Tags: Gilad Shalit, Israel 

Hamas political chief Khaled Meshal said Saturday that he will announce his organization's decision over former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's truce proposals on Sunday.

Meshal also said that Hamas' Damascus-based leadership was consulting with the organization's Gaza leadership over the issues that came up in Friday's meeting.

Hamas engaged in an internal debate Saturday over proposals put forward by Carter for a unilateral cease-fire with Israel and more political flexibility, Palestinian politicians said.
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Carter left the Syrian capital Saturday for Riyadh after an early morning meeting with Khaled Meshal.

Carter and Meshal held more than four hours of talks Friday night that discussed how the Islamist group could be drawn into a Middle East peace plan and drop its opposition to peace talks between Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the rival Fatah faction.

Carter demanded that Hamas stops firing rockets on Israel while he pursues efforts with Israel and the West to lift the siege on the Gaza strip, which is ruled by Hamas, politicians familiar with the meetings said.

"Carter also asked Meshal to adopt more flexible public statements and talked to him as a leader of a national liberation movement, not as the terrorist Israel and America try to depict him as being," one of the sources told Reuters.

"Meshal is a first among equals in Hamas. He has to secure agreement from the rest of the Hamas leadership," he added.

Carter defied U.S. and Israeli opposition to meet twice this weekend with Meshal and his deputy, two men the U.S. government has labeled terrorists and Israel accuses of masterminding attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians.

Thr former president is the most prominent American to hold talks with Meshal, whose group claimed new legitimacy from the meeting along with two other sessions the Nobel laureate held with Hamas leaders in the Middle East this week.

"Political isolation [of Hamas] by the American administration has begun to crumble," Mohammed Nazzal, a top figure in Hamas' political bureau, told The Associated Press after Friday's meeting at Meshal's Damascus office.

Meshal's deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said the meetings centered on crossings on the Gaza-Israel border, abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, the Israeli siege on the Strip and a potential cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

Meanwhile, Egypt said Friday it was making good progress in its own efforts to negotiate a tacit cease-fire, including a prisoner exchange, between Israel and Hamas.

Another senior Hamas official in Damascus, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to represent the group publicly, described the meetings as warm.

But he said Carter did not receive a response to either of the two requests the former president made: that Hamas halt its rocket attacks against Israel, and agree to a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai to discuss a prisoner exchange.

Former Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar and former Interior Minister Saeed Seyam, two Hamas officials living in Gaza who met Carter in Cairo last week, are due in Damascus later Saturday for consultations with the leadership in exile about Carter's proposals.

Nazzal said that Carter will be informed of Hamas' response in the coming days.

But underscoring the impression that Carter did not win any concessions, Hamas said Friday that Shalit would never see the light of day until Palestinian prisoners are also released in an exchange.

Previous efforts to broker a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel involving the soldier, have floundered. A Hamas official said Friday that Shalit would until Israel released Palestinian prisoners held in its jails.

Hamas is open to the release of Shalit, "but not without a price", Nazzal said.

"This meeting was not a courtesy call, concrete proposals were discussed and we admire Carter for making this effort. The discussions were frank and direct," Nazzal said.

Carter's convoy arrived at Meshal's office for the meeting under tight security, and reporters were prevented from getting near the site. The meetings were closed to media, and Carter was not available for comment. He left Damascus mid-morning Saturday, flying to Saudi Arabia for the next leg of his Mideast tour.

But Carter, who brokered the 1978 Israeli-Egyptian peace and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, has defended what he calls his personal peace mission. He says Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, must be engaged in order to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The controversy over his visit highlights two different approaches to foreign policy. Some, like Carter, believe that is impossible to resolve a conflict without engaging all parties, even those responsible for attacks on civilians. Others, including the Bush administration, contend that such meetings give credibility to hard-line militants and allow them to play for time when they are not serious about peace.

Echoing criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice before the trip, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack suggested Friday that Carter had opened himself up to exploitation by both Hamas and the Syrian government.

"We find it very odd that one would encourage to have a conversation between the Israeli government and Hamas, which doesn't even recognize the right of the Israeli government to exist," McCormack said. "Is that really the basis of a conversation?"

Several members of Congress also urged Carter not to meet Hamas leaders, saying it would confer legitimacy on the group behind dozens of suicide bombings and other attacks that have killed some 250 Israelis.

"We have a policy in this country about Hamas. And he is just deliberately undermining that policy, and it's wrong," Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., told Fox News on Friday, calling for the State Department to revoke the former president's passport.

Friday's meeting, which followed a session between Carter and Syrian President Bashar Assad, was the first public contact between a prominent American figure and Hamas officials since the Rev. Jesse Jackson met with Meshal in Syria in 2006.

The U.S. government has no contact with Hamas after designating it a terrorist organization in 1995 - an official label that means any financial or business transactions with the group are illegal. The government has also blacklisted Meshal and Abu Marzouk, making it illegal to conduct any transactions with them.

Marzouk, who attended both meetings with Carter, has been accused of organizing a network of Islamic charities to funnel money to Hamas. He spent two years in prison in a New York jail after his name appeared on a list of people suspected of terrorist activity. He was deported in 1997.

Daniel Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Bush, called Carter's meetings with Hamas officials a strategic and tactical mistake.

"Palestinians believe they cannot implement a peace agreement without Hamas, but they also understand that they can't reach such an agreement with Hamas in power," Kurtzer said.

Martin Indyk, a U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Clinton, said the problem with trying to bring Hamas into the negotiations is it will force Israel out.

Israel brands Hamas a terrorist organization and has accused Meshal of masterminding the kidnapping of Shalit near Gaza two years ago. Israel has also blamed Meshal and the group's Damascus-based leadership of directing suicide bombings such as the September 2004 attacks that killed 16 Israelis in the southern city of Be'er Sheba.

Israel tried to kill Mashaal in 1997, when agents sprayed him with poison on a street in Amman. Jordan's late King Hussein, who had signed peace with Israel in 1994, forced Israel to send the antidote that saved his life.

Afterward, Jordan expelled Meshal to Qatar as the kingdom's ties with Hamas deteriorated, and he moved to Damascus in 1999.

Yishai, the deputy prime minister, was the only Israeli minister to meet Carter when he visited Israel and the Palestinians territories earlier this week. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he did not meet Carter during his visit to avoid creating the impression that he was negotiating with Hamas.

Carter met senior Hamas officials from Gaza in Cairo on Thursday and asked them to halt rocket attacks against Israel. And in the West Bank on Wednesday, he embraced a Hamas representative, angering Israelis.

Though Israel's government refuses to deal with Hamas, Carter said Thursday he knows some Israeli government officials are quite willing to meet the militant group.

Yishai said Friday he asked Carter this week to arrange a meeting with Hamas to discuss a prisoner exchange. He said he wanted to try to win the release of Shalit.

Hamas official Mushir Masri, in a fiery speech Friday to thousands of Hamas supporters in Gaza, said the meetings with Carter were proof that Hamas was not a terrorist group but a national liberation movement.


Related articles:
  • Hamas: Shalit won't 'see light' until Palestinian prisoners freed
  • Zahar: Gazans can do 'no less' than rise up like Warsaw Ghetto Jews
  • Yishai to Carter: Tell Meshal that I want to discuss prisoner swap
  • Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial
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    Undressed to impress
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    Hamas offers truce in return for a Palestinian state along Israel's pre-1967 borders.
      1.   CARTER IS RIGHT TO MEET WITH HAMAS 16:47  |  JH 18/04/08
      2.   Democracy 17:11  |  Mike 18/04/08
      3.   ! Who appointed Jimmy Carter a retired ex President 17:17  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 18/04/08
      4.   JH 17:37  |  eva 18/04/08
      5.   This Is An Outrage,What A waste of money on Carter 17:58  |  Dish It Out 18/04/08
      6.   TO EVA 18:06  |  JH 18/04/08
      7.   HE GIVE A GREAT FAVOR TO ISRAEL 18:32  |  indrajaya 18/04/08
      8.   JH 18:33  |  fred 18/04/08
      9.   Iiar, biased, liar, biased 18:40  |  MR 18/04/08
      10.   I don`t mind 18:43  |  Harry 18/04/08
      11.   Carter Has No Practical Nor Moral Authority 18:53  |  dyinglikeflies 18/04/08
      12.   Carter is right, and so is JH 18:54  |  Morris Valentine 18/04/08
      13.   THANK YOU FRED, LET JUSTICE PREVAIL IN THE HOLY LAND 19:02  |  JH 18/04/08
      14.   Carter The Suicide Bomber 19:04  |  Born In The USA 18/04/08
      15.   The nature of the "peace conditions" of Hamas 19:09  |  Yitzhak 18/04/08
      16.   JH and fred, you`re just moonbats writing in capital letters 19:10  |  Freethinker 18/04/08
      17.   CARTER has always been a `schmuck`!!! 19:13  |  Zyskandar A Jaimot 18/04/08
      18.   Jimmy`s pennance for the american hostages he didn`t help 19:28  |  POP 18/04/08
      19.   "FREETHINKER" 19:29  |  JH 18/04/08
      20.   hamas and carter 19:41  |  Brant 18/04/08
      21.   SOLUTION: GAZA AS A NEW DUBAI; PARTS OF W/B FEDERATED WITH JORDAN 19:42  |  G. Marcus 18/04/08
      22.   JH I share your sentiments,but just to set the record straight; 20:11  |  lakshmi 18/04/08
      23.   JH contd. obvious,but for an authentic account see Ury Avenery`s 20:13  |  lakshmi 18/04/08
      24.   5 Dish - Agree or Disagree 20:22  |  Mark of Lewiston 18/04/08
      25.   Is Haaretz in Olmerts Pockets (re article in paper) 20:31  |  Kipperraes 18/04/08
      26.   response to #22 G.marcus 20:33  |  khaled 18/04/08
      27.   How many $$ does Carter receive from Arab oil? 20:49  |  Jewboy 18/04/08
      28.   The Arabs wanted to push Israel into the sea 21:02  |  Hendrook 18/04/08
      29.   Is this about Carter`s ego? 21:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/04/08
      30.   #12, Morris Valentine 21:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/04/08
      31.   PRO ISRAELI`S LASH OUT 22:02  |  JoeMomma 18/04/08
      32.   #22-Gaza as Dubai? A Kidnapping Theme Park? 22:17  |  dyinglikeflies 18/04/08
      33.   Peace 22:26  |  Keeshond 18/04/08
      34.   most courageous American 22:37  |  Observer 18/04/08
      35.   Zaher is so right .... 22:39  |  Dutch 18/04/08
      36.   Carter 22:42  |  Manel 18/04/08
      37.   22 G.Marcus,you make me smile! Pieces of a chess board! 23:03  |  lakshmi 18/04/08
      38.   # 12 Morris Valentine - You are right - intill you deny the 23:04  |  17 18/04/08
      39.   Carter is a good man 23:34  |  annie 18/04/08
      40.   Nice cosy setting.... 00:03  |  Clickfool 19/04/08
      41.   To Morris Valentine, regarding Carter 00:16  |  Jewboy 19/04/08
      42.   Hamas 00:44  |  Stanley 19/04/08
      43.   Carter destroyed his own credibility 01:11  |  Conroy 19/04/08
      44.   How the US press is spinning this 01:16  |  Ari 19/04/08
      45.   Definitely about Carter`s ego 01:17  |  Wally 19/04/08
      46.   #7 Indrajaya Carter gave Israel a better favor in 1979 01:18  |  Conroy 19/04/08
      47.   I hope veryone is braced for the escalation 01:20  |  Lynn 19/04/08
      48.   # 42 Stanley of Charleston 01:26  |  Lynn 19/04/08
      49.   # 6 JH to EVA 01:55  |  17 19/04/08
      50.   #5 Dish it out... accountability 02:38  |  maoriboy 19/04/08
      51.   #12 Morris Valentine - Carter is a true friend 03:41  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
      52.   #31 Joe Momma, are you really sick or just pretending? 03:44  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
      53.   What a Bozo 03:59  |  Joseph 19/04/08
      54.   To 17 (#38): Worthy of ridicule 05:15  |  Morris Valentine 19/04/08
      55.   To CJK (#30) 05:26  |  Morris Valentine 19/04/08
      56.   To BJ (#51): Searching research 05:39  |  Morris Valentine 19/04/08
      57.   Carter one of the greatest leaders in the world 05:47  |  Harold 19/04/08
      58.   #55, Morris Valentine 06:15  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/04/08
      59.   Did the Oslo Accords make life better for Israeli or Arab ? 06:17  |  r 19/04/08
      60.   #54 Morris Valentine 06:20  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
      61.   Carter should go to Hebron 06:36  |  Steve 19/04/08
      62.   #56 Morris Valentine 06:48  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
      63.   C`mon Folks, There Is Nothing Wrong With Carter Meeting 06:49  |  Eli 19/04/08
      64.   Carter holds audience for Peace 06:54  |  Zev 19/04/08
      65.   Blueprint Must Address Greivances 06:55  |  DoubleClick 19/04/08
      66.   A MEETING OF THE CENTURY 07:19  |