Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 15, 2008 Nisan 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:11 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Cool welcome for Carter in Jerusalem By Haaretz Staff and Agencies President Shimon Peres accused former U.S. president Jimmy Carter of causing significant damage to Israel and the peace process in recent years, during a meeting between the two men yesterday at the President's Residence, officials at the residence said. Peres criticized Carter for comparing Israeli policies to apartheid in his hotly debated recent book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," according to the officials. He also said it would be a mistake for Carter to carry through with his plans to meet with Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal in Damascus, saying Meshal is responsible for Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Members of the press were not invited to the meeting. Ahead of his Mideast trip, Carter defended his reasons for wanting to engage Hamas. "I think there's no doubt in anyone's mind that if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process," Carter told ABC News "This Week" in a broadcast aired yesterday. The schedule released by the Atlanta-based Carter Center showed that the former president had no plans to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to meet with Carter because of his planned meeting with Meshal and his views on Israel. A senior Israeli official said "scheduling problems" was the official reason given for the high-profile snub - even though Olmert recently took time to chat with "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller. Olmert's bureau did not respond to a request for further clarification. But the real reason for the cold shoulder is Carter's plan to meet with Meshal, the official said, adding that Israel's leaders are not publicly criticizing Carter out of respect for his former position as U.S. president. Carter did meet yesterday with Noam Shalit, the father of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Shalit described the meeting as positive, and told Haaretz he asked Carter to help advance the deal to release his son. However, Shalit provided no further details on the matter and would not say whether he asked the former president to pass on a message to Meshal. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Security.com Shin Bet is reaching out to English and Arabic worlds with new web sites. Obama's blunder As Penn. primary approaches, Clinton has latched on to 'values' remarks by Obama.

Read & React Jimmy Carter: Israel must talk to everyone Responses: 251 Livni to tell Gulf leaders in Qatar: Iran the threat, not Israel Responses: 68 IDF probing why Palestinians held 16 hours at checkpoint Responses: 79 Israel and U.S. sign nuclear cooperation agreement Responses: 58 More Headlines 01:19 IAF strike kills DFLP militant in northern Gaza 01:13 Qatar's emir tells Livni Israel should lift blockade on Gaza 23:25 Barak orders renewal of diesel fuel supply to Gaza Strip 01:11 Obama hits the 'G-spot' 23:21 Carter offers to act as 'communicator' between Hamas, U.S., Israel 18:59 U.K. Jews to ex-pats in Israel: Fight far-right in London vote 01:10 Two Scandinavian tourists say three kibbutz men raped them 23:33 Despite terror warnings, Israelis expected to flock Sinai over Passover 21:04 Shin Bet reaches out to English, Arabic world with new web sites 22:01 Blair: Int'l aid would flow into Gaza if political change occured Previous Editions Select Day 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr

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