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Last update - 10:27 13/02/2009 Jimmy Carter: Include Hamas in Israel-Palestinian peace talks By Akiva Eldar Tags: Israel News, Jimmy Carter Likudniks don't scare former United States president Jimmy Carter. On the contrary: The electoral turnaround of 1977 that brought them to power for the first time enabled Carter to be inscribed in the history books as the leader who facilitated the first peace agreement between Israelis and Arabs. In his new book, "We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land" (Simon & Schuster), Carter relates that neither he nor America's Jewish community knew what to expect from prime minister Menachem Begin, a former underground fighter who had acquired a bad name for himself as a war-mongering fanatic. Egyptian president Anwar Sadat reported to Carter that he had asked Eastern European leaders who knew the new prime minister whether Begin was an honest man and a strong person. According to him, the answers were in the affirmative. In a telephone interview before this week's election, I asked Carter what he thinks of Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu. From his office at the Carter Center in Atlanta, the 39th U.S. president answered calmly that Netanyahu is a practical politician, and that if a proposed peace agreement wins broad support among the Israeli public, the Likud leader would not turn his back on it, and would be "constructive." Carter does remember, however, that he had differences of opinion with Netanyahu, who argued - in contrast to Ariel Sharon, who as Begin's agriculture minister, enthusiastically supported a peace agreement with Egypt - that relinquishing Sinai would be harmful to Israel. Still, Carter thinks it is also important to note that during Netanyahu's first term as prime minister, he sent out feelers to Syria regarding the Golan Heights. Advertisement The need for an immediate renewal of Israel's peace process with Syria, as well as with the Palestinians and Lebanon, was one of the topics of the conversation last month between the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate and the newly elected 44th U.S. president, Barack Obama. The elderly peace activist says he came away with the feeling that he had burst through an open door. Peace plan outline Carter's latest book begins with a personal confession concerning the use of the word "apartheid" on the cover of his previous book ("Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid"), and ends with an outline for an American peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. It includes the demilitarization of the Palestinian state and the introduction of peacekeeping forces; a withdrawal to the 1967 boundaries, with border adjustments in Jerusalem and its surroundings, in exchange for alternative territories for the Palestinians; shared control over Jerusalem's Old City; a Palestinian right of return to the territories only; and monetary compensation for the refugees. Carter proposed setting this September as the target for achieving these goals or at least for evaluating the progress and the remaining difficulties. There are voices in the Israeli peace camp who believe that the United States, as well as other countries in the West, should be sending a clearer message to Israel about the military operation in Gaza, which not only cost the lives of so many, but also undermined the support, peace and trust of many Palestinians as well as Israelis in the process. Carter: "Yes, I believe that's true. I'm very gratified to see the choice that President Obama has made of a peace envoy: George Mitchell. In my opinion, he's the best American he could possibly have chosen for that task and it may be that, with the strong backing of the White House and some direct American involvement in the negotiations, we'll see some progress made." Do you think that if Israel had accepted the document you brought from Damascus [in April 2008], from Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, we could have avoided this last round of violence in Gaza? "Absolutely ... And Meshal and his entire politburo, top members, were committed to that. To stop the rockets completely and to observe the cease-fire would open up the gates and let the people there have food, water, medicine and fuel. "Hamas had offered to extend the cease-fire in December, but the Israelis were not willing to do it. I have met twice with Hamas leaders during this past year and both times that seems to be the only thing that they demanded - that there be no more attacks by either side, and that the crossings be opened, so that at least a moderate amount of food and water and medicine and fuel be permitted to come in to the people in Gaza. "I don't have any doubt that Gaza could be peaceful if the one and a half million people there could get adequate food and supplies and have access to the outside world. But when you imprison that many Palestinians, of all political persuasions, and deprive them of the basic necessities of life, and also of freedom to move back and forth between there and the West Bank - or there and Egypt, or there and Jordan, or there and the ocean - then you breed dissension and that dissension is going to be expressed in violence." In your opinion, why is Israel doing this? "I don't understand why. Unless it's an attempt to punish the people in Gaza so badly that [they] will turn politically against Hamas. But I think that has proven to be a fallacy." 'Two separate issues' Noting similarities between Hamas and Hezbollah, Carter says: "I think that Hezbollah in Lebanon has now gotten a very substantial status, as part of a major political organization. I was in Lebanon in December to help them prepare for an [upcoming] election, and Hezbollah and the other similar groups there might very well gain substantial [electoral] strength." You have spoken to Meshal recently about captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. What are the chances that he will be home soon? "When I met with the leaders in Damascus, they said he was well and alive, and so one of my requests to them was to get a letter written from him to his parents so they would know he was okay. "I think that a good negotiator could work out an accommodation between Israel and Palestinians on a prisoner exchange that would result in the freedom of Shalit. But I don't think it's advisable to tie that to a cease-fire. I think they ought to be two separate issues." Would you advocate Israel speaking directly with Hamas? "Well, I think there needs to be a step-by-step process. The first step, in my opinion, in an overall peace agreement - there's got to be some reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. And that can go forward, I believe, if the United States and Israel would give it our tacit support, our strong support." Carter points out that Meshal has said that "Hamas would accept any agreement negotiated between [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] Abu Mazen and Israeli authorities if it was submitted to the Palestinian people in a referendum and got a positive vote. So, it's not a hopeless case to have good-faith talks based on a two-state solution that would be approved by the Palestinians." Would you advocate a change in the American attitude toward Hamas? "Yes. I think it's absolutely important that Hamas be involved in any sort of peace process. In fact, I don't know what the relative popularity is of Hamas - I haven't seen any public opinion polls since the invasion and attack on Gaza, but I was the main observer in 2006, in January, when Hamas won a majority of the parliamentary seats. And as you know, almost all of those candidates who won, who lived in the West Bank, are now in Israeli prisons. So that means that the Hamas and Fatah unity government can't be formed at all. It's not an elected government there representing the Palestinian people; it's just a temporary government, basically appointed just to avoid having Hamas members." George Mitchell visited Israel and the West Bank, and he went to Jordan and Egypt, but he avoided seeing Syrian President Bashar Assad. "I know. I think that was just his first trip, where he's probably trying to refresh his memory, and learn the latest developments over there. But I have confidence that in the future, without too much delay, the United States will have diplomatic relations with Syria once again. When I go to the Middle East, I always go to Syria because I've known Bashar Assad since he was a college student, in London. When I go over there I enjoy meeting with him. I find him to be quite intelligent, and quite eager to have an agreement with Israel. And to be supportive, not only of the Golan Heights issue providing peace, but also supportive of the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement." The former president adds that he believes that if Assad feels comfortable with the United States and with Israel, he can also play a positive role vis-a-vis Hamas and Hezbollah. You often sound like you're more concerned about the future of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state than many Israelis. "I am. I'm deeply concerned about it. I would say that the top priority in my life, for international affairs in the last 30 years, has been to see Israel as a Jewish state living in security and peace. That's a number one priority that I have in my life. I'm getting old now, but I'm still active, and that's still a very high priority for me. "I've known the history of the Jewish people, the Hebrew people, the Israelites, and I've taught these things every Sunday since I was 18 years old. So I'm deeply committed as a Christian to seeing the covenant with Abraham fulfilled," says Carter, noting that peace in the Middle East is also "a key to tremendously reducing the level of animosity against my own country, and reducing the commitment to violence through terrorist acts." Do you believe it's also an American blunder that, in spite of U.S. policy and warnings and messages, the settlements kept growing and they keep growing actually as we speak? "That's true. When I first visited the West Bank and the Golan Heights in 1973, I think there were only 1,500 Jewish settlers in the occupied territories. I think that [the expansion] happened particularly in the last 16 years. George Bush, Sr. was very strict in deterring, I think, then-prime minister [Yitzhak] Shamir from building settlements, and even withheld several hundred million dollars in U.S. aid from Israel because of a large settlement between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. And Shamir backed down because of that. But under president [Bill] Clinton and president George W. Bush, the settlements have not been deterred by influence from the United States, which is a mistake." Carter is asked whether, after the traumatic evacuation of Gush Katif, it would be possible to remove approximately 120,000-130,000 settlers from the West Bank, and whether NATO countries will go along with his proposal to send forces there. He says he definitely believes that, within the context of a peace agreement, Israel will evacuate settlements. He also does not discount the possibility that U.S. forces could "assure that during the transition period, there wouldn't be any threats to Israel from Palestinians or to Palestinians from Israel." The former president adds that "another option might have been Turkey, since a few weeks ago, Turkey and Israel were fairly friendly" - or alternatively any Arab or Muslim country that would be acceptable to both sides. How do you see the solution to the problem of Iran's nuclear program? "I spent several days studying the maps and looking at the flight paths and the distances and so forth, because my profession was military as well, so I'm familiar with how far a plane can fly, of different types, and how much fuel that requires. When you have to go 2,000 miles round trip, you're going to have to refuel somewhere, over Iraq or over Saudi Arabia, which would be very difficult, or you'd have to carry a very tiny bomb to drop. You know you can't have both. "I think that that kind of attack would not be effective in destroying Iran's plans for nuclear power ..., but I think it would enhance the support that Arab countries are giving Iran. I think Iran has been greatly strengthened in the last few years - by the war in Iraq, which I think was unnecessary, and also by the lack of progress on meeting the legitimate needs of the Palestinians. So if we can get out of Iraq, and if we could bring peace to the Palestinians - those two factors in themselves would greatly reduce the influence of Iran." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bibi running scared Netanyahu is talking about a broad coalition only because he is afraid. Happy trails, Ehud Despite the scandals, Israelis are going to miss Olmert.   1.   ISRAEL-CARTER 21:44  |  john bagoti 12/02/09   2.   Carter is senile 23:24  |  SF2OAK 12/02/09   3.   #1 bagoti 10:38  |  dovvod 13/02/09   4.   Carter 10:49  |  Ian 13/02/09   5.   it would be an honor to discuss peace with a partner 10:57  |  Miron 13/02/09   6.   Exclude Carter from the news - he`s irrelevant 10:59  |  x-ray 13/02/09   7.   WHAT, john bagoti??? 11:11  |  zionist 13/02/09   8.   SF2OAK is senile 11:28  |  Brendan Holleran 13/02/09   9.   Note to Jimmy Carter: 12:18  |  Natallie Durson 13/02/09   10.   Israel is negotiating with Hamas now so, 12:41  |  A Bethlehemite 13/02/09   11.   Carter thinks. A real scoop ! 12:44  |  Avraham 13/02/09   12.   Brendan 12:58  |  x-ray 13/02/09   13.   To John Bagoti and Nattalie Durson 13:18  |  David LG 13/02/09   14.   talking to terrorists 13:49  |  matt 13/02/09   15.   talking to Hamas 14:05  |  Susan 13/02/09   16.   So sorry for Mr. Carter ! 14:13  |  Johann 13/02/09   17.   SF2OAK 14:15  |  Roo 13/02/09   18.   WHAT HE MEANS 14:16  |  indrajaya 13/02/09   19.   Carter achieved a genuine peace deal before! 14:17  |  Manny Goldstein 13/02/09   20.   Israel is negotiating with Hamas now 14:19  |  CommonSense 13/02/09   21.   #2 14:21  |  C 13/02/09   22.   SF2OAK #2 14:54  |  Roo 13/02/09   23.   Carter forgets 15:17  |  *BEN JABO 13/02/09   24.   carter`s historical vision has been proved flawed 15:18  |  Steve 13/02/09   25.   SF2OAK and his wishful 2nd coming 15:18  |  Moshe 13/02/09   26.   To # 6 Natallie - Peace-seekers those you support ? 15:22  |  Mario 13/02/09   27.   Carter 15:24  |  Leon 13/02/09   28.   Carter and Hamas 15:38  |  Common Sense 13/02/09   29.   CARTER GO LIVE IN AFRICA FOR GOOD 15:40  |  Dale 13/02/09   30.   #7 Bethlemite 15:46  |  EZ 13/02/09   31.   I am willing to try Carters way 16:19  |  Israeli 13/02/09   32.   Don`t negotiate with your enemies 16:24  |  Gene 13/02/09   33.   President Carter has always demonstrated a reasonable approach... 16:25  |  Smadar 13/02/09   34.   Manny Goldstein - "his suggestions above sensible and practical. 16:29  |  17 13/02/09   35.   Manny 16:37  |  Brad 13/02/09   36.   Carter`s opinions 16:41  |  Chuck 13/02/09   37.   Carter should Google 16:43  |  Gil 13/02/09   38.   Oh God 17:15  |  Brendan 13/02/09   39.   Negotiate with Al Qaeda? 17:40  |  T 13/02/09   40.   He wouldn`t understand his Bible if it jumped off the table and.. 17:41  |  George 13/02/09   41.   How can anyone support any government 17:43  |  Lynn 13/02/09   42.   Those who come with F-16`s and a siege... 17:45  |  Michael Hess 13/02/09   43.   3/4 of the so called ME Quartet have already "gotten" it..... 17:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/02/09   44.   Carter brings sanity 17:54  |  Elrig 13/02/09   45.   Jimmy Carter and his opinions 17:58  |  Yacov Azriel Shlomo 13/02/09   46.   Peanut magnate Carter should refocus on our toxic peanut industry 18:08  |  Dr. L. Brnd 13/02/09   47.   #1 John bagoti...what an asinine post! 18:12  |  Dr. Kamal Mubarak 13/02/09   48.   Carter should be prosecuted 18:16  |  Brod 13/02/09   49.   Moral Relativism and lesser evils 18:25  |  Welsh Short 13/02/09   50.   SF2OAK 18:26  |  Roo 13/02/09   51.   Mr. Carter 18:55  |  dariush 13/02/09   52.   Carter 18:55  |  John 13/02/09   53.   What Carter Says Now will Happen Sooner Rather Than Later... 18:58  |  Monitor 13/02/09   54.   #6 19:00  |  sam 13/02/09   55.   Attacking The Man Who Achieved A Peace Agreement With Egypt 19:03  |  chet 13/02/09   56.   13 19:07  |  zionist forever 13/02/09   57.   Everytime he opens his mouth, he proves his anti-Israel bias 19:10  |  Nechama 13/02/09   58.   how about a meeting between obama and osama too? 19:13  |  vik 13/02/09   59.   Carter is a useful fool (tool?) to the Arabs 19:14  |  David 13/02/09   60.   SF2OAK #2 19:16  |  Roo 13/02/09   61.   SF2OAK #2 19:16  |  Roo 13/02/09   62.   Jimmy Carter 19:33  |  Dan Goor 13/02/09   63.   JESUS NEVER EXISTED AND NEVER WILL 19:39  |  JMK 13/02/09   64.   Carter 19:43  |  Arnold 13/02/09   65.   To Brendan #5 20:12  |  Harry 13/02/09   66.   To # 4- Miron and to # 6 Natallie 20:20  |  Johann 13/02/09   67.   Who cares about Jimmy Carter? 20:20  |  Nechama 13/02/09   68.   gill 17 20:29  |  Alberto 13/02/09   69.   Difference between the Ireland and Palestine problem 20:30  |  Mike McKenna 13/02/09   70.   Carter opinions 20:31  |  Alberto 13/02/09   71.   SF2OAK #2 20:33  |  Roo 13/02/09   72.   Only man to bring peace 20:37  |  American 13/02/09   73.   Irrelevant 20:37  |  Tzipi do dah 13/02/09   74.   #1. You must be really confused 20:53  |  Alan 13/02/09   75.   Arabs/Carter to Israel" Gimme Gimme Gimme 20:57  |  Baruch Gold 13/02/09   76.   #13 21:03  |  ira jaffe 13/02/09   77.   M. Goldstein #13. 21:22  |  Ami 13/02/09   78.   Carter = 0 credibility with Israelis 21:23  |  Abraham 13/02/09   79.   indrayaya 21:39  |  ottomatik 13/02/09   80.   Carter a paid consultant for Hamas 21:46  |  Abraham 13/02/09   81.   Natelie Dumbston 21:47  |  ottomatik 13/02/09   82.   Jimmy Should See Geert`s "Fitna" Movie 21:54  |  Frankie Littlehammer 13/02/09   83.   #24 Roo - Only major violation of truce by Israel 4/11 - a lie! 22:03  |  An Israeli 13/02/09   84.   Israel and Jimmy Carter 22:14  |  Ed 13/02/09   85.   Natallie Durson # 6 22:19  |  Westwell 13/02/09   86.   Carter 22:22  |  Brod 13/02/09   87.   Carter is a supporter of totalitarians and terrorists 22:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/02/09   88.   Breaking with an old friend 23:01  |  Morris Valentine 13/02/09   89.   Carter is a disgrace to humanity and the Judeo/Christian ethic. 23:09  |  Claudia 13/02/09   90.   Cipora # 52, Thank Carter 23:21  |  Westwell 13/02/09   91.   Where there is a hell, there is a devil in the details 23:32  |  Ivar 13/02/09   92.   "Common Sense" 23:49  |  Janice 13/02/09   93.   Chuck from San Francisco 23:55  |  Janice 13/02/09   94.   Territory 00:21  |  ED 14/02/09   95.   Carter 00:23  |  Roberto Casati 14/02/09   96.   #30 00:23  |  Karen 14/02/09   97.   Carter an Idiot 00:40  |  Bill Dodson 14/02/09   98.   Carter and Hamas 01:16  |  A rational man 14/02/09   99.   #50 `An Israeli` cites `Camera Org` 01:18  |  Roo 14/02/09   100.   Carter knows that in this hell, there`s a devil in the details 01:32  |  Ivar 14/02/09   101.   Carter? 02:13  |  Nechama 14/02/09   102.   Carter Is A Naive, Old Fool 02:25  |  Jeff Northridge 14/02/09   103.   Jimmy Carter - Senile US Anti-Semite 03:08  |  OpEdMunkey 14/02/09   104.   I respect the guy 04:19  |  American 14/02/09   105.   Jimmy Carter 04:39  |  Jasper 14/02/09   106.   Carter is an old fool 05:45  |  Lost Cat 14/02/09   107.   CARTER SHOULD FOCUS ON GOLF GAME INSTEAD 07:16  |  dp 14/02/09   108.   Carter and Middle-East Peace 07:18  |  John Q. Public 14/02/09   109.   WHAT A BUNCH OF UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE 08:41  |  indrajaya 14/02/09   110.   Carter likes Natanyahu-what does that say about BIBI 08:41  |  no name 14/02/09   111.   it`s a bleak future 09:10  |  Marvin Gaye 14/02/09   112.   tired of living in fear and suspicions 09:29  |  Marvin Gaye 14/02/09   113.   carter is a great man,but 09:39  |  signal boy 14/02/09   114.   It`s ironic. 09:45  |  Joe 14/02/09   115.   How active can Hamas terrorists be included in talks?! 10:14  |  Esther 14/02/09   116.   One sided justice and peace 10:21  |  Seeker 14/02/09   117.   ED-Territory 10:38  |  Yo ho 14/02/09   118.   JESUS NEVER EXISTED ? 10:39  |  Bob 14/02/09   119.   I don`t respect that guy 10:43  |  Joe Doe 14/02/09   120.   #88, Morris Valentine 11:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/02/09   121.   To Esther 11:30  |  Matilda18 14/02/09   122.   #90, Westwell 11:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 14/02/09   123.   Jeff Northridge-both sides talk out of the side of their mouths 12:18  |  Roo 14/02/09   124.   bob and the existence of jesus 12:24  |  pseudo-reimarus 14/02/09   125.   Moreover... 13:03  |  Esther 14/02/09   126.   Hamas-lover Jimmy Carter 14:13  |  Benjamina 14/02/09   127.   Carter & Hamas 16:10  |  Shlomo 14/02/09   128.   Delusional 16:41  |  Gilad 14/02/09   129.   To Mr.Carter..Would you please ask Hamas to revoke their Charter? 17:36  |  KATHY 14/02/09   130.   Carter is right 18:08  |  Tony 14/02/09   131.   Carter and Hamas 19:47  |  JoJo 14/02/09   132.   Carter believes in the ABRAHAMIC COVENANT ??? 22:52  |  Bill 14/02/09   133.   Carter ? 23:22  |  P. J. Casey 14/02/09   134.   NO to Carter 23:25  |  Brod 14/02/09   135.   ##99 Roo - The truth of statements is not determined by 23:40  |  An Israeli 14/02/09   136.   To # 14. Define Terrorist! 23:58  |  Fishermen 14/02/09   137.   ROO The Iranians made a total fool of Carter& humiliated him. 00:48  |  PETER SM 15/02/09   138.   Indrajayah 18 01:08  |  sabra 15/02/09   139.   Two STATES FOR ONE PEOPLE! 01:20  |  Luis 15/02/09   140.   What is an "underground fighter"? 01:33  |  Bryan 15/02/09   141.   Shah of Iran and a Peanut Farmer 01:46  |  Veritas Vincit 15/02/09   142.   Tired old cliches PETER SM 02:31  |  Roo 15/02/09   143.   jimmy carter 02:36  |  lenny 15/02/09   144.   Revoke your genocidal charters - both of you 03:30  |  Sardaukar 15/02/09   145.   carter read the hamas charter 03:49  |  real vision 15/02/09   146.   He damaged the US and is continuing 05:01  |  Anti-Hypocrite 15/02/09   147.   139 You can`t face the the truth 05:08  |  Truth 15/02/09   148.   Include Hamas in Israel-Palestinian peace talks 05:32  |  Joe Schon 15/02/09   149.   Conspirator reveals himself 05:32  |  US True 15/02/09   150.   Carter is a Mouthpiece for Money 05:38  |  Rat detector 15/02/09   151.   Carter 05:43  |  Joe Schon 15/02/09   152.   ROO No cliches about Hamas demanding millions of Arabs to Israel 05:44  |  PETER SM 15/02/09   153.   Haaretz when will you restore this talkback? 02:44  |  A poster 17/02/09   154.   Thank you #147 Truth 00:25  |  Sardaukar 18/02/09   155.   to: SF2OAK 00:48  |  Amir 18/02/09   156.   Include EVERYONE in talks 19:54  |  George Faddoul 18/02/09   157.   #140 Bryan - Louisiana 02:11  |  *BEN JABO 20/02/09

Read & React Lieberman backs Netanyahu for prime minister Responses: 60 Haruki Murakami: Why I decided to go to Israel after Gaza war Responses: 48 Gideon Levy: Netanyahu, put your money where your mouth is Responses: 83 Rabin's assassin Yigal Amir forced to look at picture of his victim Responses: 28 Israeli YouTube Hitler parody infuriates Holocaust survivors Responses: 75 More Headlines 02:33 Livni to Haaretz: I may consider a Likud-Yisrael Beitenu coalition 02:18 ANALYSIS / Netanyahu's victory is starting to turn sour 02:30 Keep Lieberman out of the government 23:27 Indyk: Netanyahu may seek Syria deal to deflect U.S. pressure 23:18 Ehud Olmert, we will miss you 23:15 IAEA: New uranium traces found at suspected Syria nuclear site 01:49 Black September terrorist who plotted to attack Golda Meir released from U.S. prison 18:47 Hundreds gather at Tel Aviv mall expecting cash to fall from the sky 22:09 Egypt recalls commerce delegation to Israel 01:45 George Mitchell: U.S. committed to Israel security, Palestinian state 20:30 U.S. Senator John Kerry makes rare visit to Hamas-ruled Gaza 21:09 3 Qassam rockets strike western Negev; no one hurt 23:23 Netanyahu, put your money where your mouth is 00:25 Jewish Yemenite family arrives in Israel after secret rescue 16:56 Report: Vatican readmits society that propagates anti-Semitism Previous Editions Select Day 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 16 feb 15 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 09 feb 08 feb 06 feb

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