In my humble opinion, the only man to successfully negotiate a lasting peace agreement between Israel and one of her Arab neighbors would certainly make make a better Envoy than Tony (the poodle) Blair. And, that's why Carter's offer will not be accepted - peace and stability, particularly between Hamas and Fatah, is not in Israel's interest and therefore, not on Bush's agenda. But, again, there can no real and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine without Hamas.
By Julie Stahl - July 26, 2007
As Washington continues a policy of isolating the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, former President Jimmy Carter reportedly has offered to mediate between Hamas and rival Palestinian faction, Fatah.
The Palestinian News Agency Ma'an reported that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Scott Custer, West Bank director of the Carter Center, in Haniyeh's Gaza Strip office. Custer told Haniyeh that Carter, a Democrat, was willing to mediate between the factions. Haniyeh okayed Carter's offer, the report said.
The Carter Center announced in May that it is "reinvigorating its presence in the Palestinian Territories in support of peace for Israel, justice for the Palestinians, and the emergence of a viable, democratic Palestinian state."
The newly opened field office in the West Bank city of Ramallah was established "to closely monitor political developments on the ground, publish periodic reports on critical issues of democratic development in the territories, and work with local partners on human rights and democracy activities."
Carter headed the international observer mission that validated last year's Palestinian elections, which brought Hamas to power. He was also an observer in the first round of Palestinian elections in 1996 and again in the 2005 elections.
The former president's 2006 book, "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid," created an uproar in the American Jewish and pro-Israel community, which charged that it was not only pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli -- but inaccurate.
Carter also has been critical of Bush administration policy in the Middle East. He told a human rights conference in Ireland last month that Washington's refusal to aid Hamas and to recognize Hamas after it won legislative elections last year was a "criminal" act.
Custer on Wednesday said he was unable to comment on the issue. Cybercast News Service is attempting to obtain comment from the Carter Center in Atlanta but has not yet been successful.
Carter's willingness to deal with Hamas appears to fly in the face of official U.S. policy.
After Hamas won the January 2006 elections, the U.S. cut aid to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) over the faction's refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Amid bloody factional violence, Hamas last month seized power in the Gaza Strip.
P.A. Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah then dismissed Haniyeh from his post as P.A. prime minister, but the move had little practical effect. The Palestinian self-rule areas are effectively ruled by two regimes -- a Hamas regime in Gaza under Haniyeh, and the official P.A. administration under Abbas in the West Bank.
The U.S. and Israeli governments have been backing Abbas and forces loyal to him as "moderates" among Palestinians.
They are considered "moderate" because they call for a two-state solution to the conflict, whereas Hamas wants to see an Islamic state created in all of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But critics say that ideologically, both Fatah and Hamas want to see Israel destroyed in its current form.
Since last month's Hamas-Fatah split, Israel, the U.S. and its Quartet partners -- European Union, Russia and United Nations -- as well as Egypt and Jordan, have thrown their support behind Abbas in an attempt to further isolate Hamas.
An American official told Cybercast News Service on condition of anonymity this week that mediating between the two factions would not necessarily violate American law.
Providing material support or money to Hamas -- designated a terrorist organization by the State Department -- would break U.S. law, the official confirmed. Other than that, a person is free to do what he wants, he added.
Nonetheless, the official said the U.S. administration does not believe that talking to Hamas is worthwhile -- a stance based on Hamas' own actions.
Hamas is a terrorist organization that has shown no desire for peace, he said. Fatah, on the other hand, accepts the Quartet principles of recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and abiding by previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.
By Julie Stahl - July 26, 2007
As Washington continues a policy of isolating the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, former President Jimmy Carter reportedly has offered to mediate between Hamas and rival Palestinian faction, Fatah.
The Palestinian News Agency Ma'an reported that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Scott Custer, West Bank director of the Carter Center, in Haniyeh's Gaza Strip office. Custer told Haniyeh that Carter, a Democrat, was willing to mediate between the factions. Haniyeh okayed Carter's offer, the report said.
The Carter Center announced in May that it is "reinvigorating its presence in the Palestinian Territories in support of peace for Israel, justice for the Palestinians, and the emergence of a viable, democratic Palestinian state."
The newly opened field office in the West Bank city of Ramallah was established "to closely monitor political developments on the ground, publish periodic reports on critical issues of democratic development in the territories, and work with local partners on human rights and democracy activities."
Carter headed the international observer mission that validated last year's Palestinian elections, which brought Hamas to power. He was also an observer in the first round of Palestinian elections in 1996 and again in the 2005 elections.
The former president's 2006 book, "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid," created an uproar in the American Jewish and pro-Israel community, which charged that it was not only pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli -- but inaccurate.
Carter also has been critical of Bush administration policy in the Middle East. He told a human rights conference in Ireland last month that Washington's refusal to aid Hamas and to recognize Hamas after it won legislative elections last year was a "criminal" act.
Custer on Wednesday said he was unable to comment on the issue. Cybercast News Service is attempting to obtain comment from the Carter Center in Atlanta but has not yet been successful.
Carter's willingness to deal with Hamas appears to fly in the face of official U.S. policy.
After Hamas won the January 2006 elections, the U.S. cut aid to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) over the faction's refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Amid bloody factional violence, Hamas last month seized power in the Gaza Strip.
P.A. Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah then dismissed Haniyeh from his post as P.A. prime minister, but the move had little practical effect. The Palestinian self-rule areas are effectively ruled by two regimes -- a Hamas regime in Gaza under Haniyeh, and the official P.A. administration under Abbas in the West Bank.
The U.S. and Israeli governments have been backing Abbas and forces loyal to him as "moderates" among Palestinians.
They are considered "moderate" because they call for a two-state solution to the conflict, whereas Hamas wants to see an Islamic state created in all of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But critics say that ideologically, both Fatah and Hamas want to see Israel destroyed in its current form.
Since last month's Hamas-Fatah split, Israel, the U.S. and its Quartet partners -- European Union, Russia and United Nations -- as well as Egypt and Jordan, have thrown their support behind Abbas in an attempt to further isolate Hamas.
An American official told Cybercast News Service on condition of anonymity this week that mediating between the two factions would not necessarily violate American law.
Providing material support or money to Hamas -- designated a terrorist organization by the State Department -- would break U.S. law, the official confirmed. Other than that, a person is free to do what he wants, he added.
Nonetheless, the official said the U.S. administration does not believe that talking to Hamas is worthwhile -- a stance based on Hamas' own actions.
Hamas is a terrorist organization that has shown no desire for peace, he said. Fatah, on the other hand, accepts the Quartet principles of recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and abiding by previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.
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