Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., April 21, 2008 Nisan 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:39 (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

Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai on Wednesday meeting with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter at the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry. (Nir Keidar) Last update - 11:40 18/04/2008 Yishai to Carter: Tell Meshal that I want to discuss prisoner swap By Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Khaled Meshal, Israel, Hamas  Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai asked former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to tell Hamas leaders, including Khaled Meshal, that he would like to meet in order to expedite a prisoner exchange that would bring home kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Yishai relayed his message to Carter during a meeting on Monday. The meeting was held at the request of the former president, who wanted to meet with Israeli political leaders from across the political spectrum. The meeting was arranged through the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. Yishai's bureau said he did not ask Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for permission to hold the meeting, nor did he tell Olmert what he discussed. Advertisement Yishai said other Israeli officials erred in boycotting Carter. During the meeting, he told Carter that he opposed the former president's use of the term "apartheid" in his book about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Yishai said Carter told him that the interpretation of his use of the word was fundamentally wrong. Yishai told Haaretz that in order to redeem prisoners, he was prepared to meet with anyone who could help move things ahead, including Hamas leaders. He said this did not contradict Israeli government policy, since he did not intend to discuss diplomatic issues or a cease-fire. After Carter visited Sderot this week, he pledged to help arrange a cease-fire. Carter also met with Shalit's parents, and said he would address Shalit's release when he spoke to Meshal. Shalit was kidnapped during a raid on an Israeli army post near Gaza in the summer of 2006, and is being held in the coastal strip. "I am ready to meet with all necessary Hamas members and with Shalit's captors, and I would be pleased if you can help," Yishai told Carter at their meeting on Monday. "I am volunteering myself for the task, and I ask you to convey a message: They also have prisoners and I am sure they want to see them released, and therefore it is proper to expedite the negotiations." Yishai thanked Carter for his willingness to assist in finding out the fate of missing soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, whose kidnapping in 2006, days after Shalit's, sparked the Second Lebanon War. Carter promised to pass along the message and to meet with Yishai again when he returns to Israel next week, after visiting other countries in the region. Yishai opposes negotiating with the Palestinian leadership, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, over a permanent-status arrangement, especially regarding Jerusalem. A source in Shas said Thursday that if talks with Hamas led to calm, especially around the Gaza Strip, this could lessen pressure to reach a final-status agreement, which could lead to a coalition crisis with Shas. Yishai placed his request as Israeli and American officials were protesting Carter's intention to meet with Meshal, the leader of an organization that Israel and the United States consider a terror group. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert did not make time to meet with Carter, and Haaretz has learned that after the press mentioned Carter's plan to meet Meshal, Defense Minister Ehud Barak cancelled a meeting that had been scheduled for Monday. Barak's bureau said the meeting had been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. Carter told Haaretz this week that before he arrived in the region, his staff informed the U.S. government of all the meetings he had planned for his Middle East visit, including the meeting with Meshal. Carter said that until his plans became public knowledge, no U.S. officials objected to them. Related articles: Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial Lieberman to Carter: Meeting Meshal will only heighten terror Carter meets Hamas official, calls for group to be included in peace talks Bookmark to del.icio.us   Passover in Damascus Syria's 100 remaining Jews say they feel free to celebrate Passover openly. Shanghai surprise A Jewish couple in Shanghai weds inside a synagogue for the first time since WWII.   1.   Yishai Put up or SHUT UP 03:25  |  MOE 18/04/08   2.   Eli Yishai. 04:25  |  sandra chitayat 18/04/08   3.   Typical schizophrenic bungling by Olmert 04:57  |  Joe 18/04/08   4.   Officials erred in boycoting carter 05:04  |  Shmuelshachor 18/04/08   5.   Yishai sells everybody to protect his ass 05:43  |  Alex 18/04/08   6.   Carta is no where to be seen on Darfur to talk to everybody 05:52  |  Genuine Tosefta 18/04/08   7.   Carta is no where to be seen on Darfur to talk to everybody 05:53  |  Genuine Tosefta 18/04/08   8.   Carta is no where to be seen on Darfur to talk to everybody 05:53  |  Genuine Tosefta 18/04/08   9.   Carta is no where to be seen on Darfur to talk to everybody 05:53  |  Genuine Tosefta 18/04/08   10.   Prisoner exchange ratio 06:17  |  David K 18/04/08   11.   Carter shuold stick to growing peanuts 06:21  |  Adrian de Klerk 18/04/08   12.   Dialog for Peace 06:24  |  Fadi Hirz 18/04/08   13.   Yishai when did you change your name? 06:33  |  Yossi 18/04/08   14.   Genuine Tosefta - Your point? 06:44  |  Natallie Durson 18/04/08   15.   14 Natalie Durson Thanks for pointing that out 07:37  |  Ron Day 18/04/08   16.   Every man is their own government!! 08:21  |  Webster 18/04/08   17.   Genuine Tosefta 08:47  |  CK Tan 18/04/08   18.   Shas lost any last shred of respect after it`s recent sell-outs! 09:23  |  redmike 18/04/08   19.   YISHAI WANTS THE TOP JOB 09:38  |  indrajaya 18/04/08   20.   Carter 10:29  |  Gregor 18/04/08   21.   Just trying to save himself. This is all about Yishai 11:09  |  Jos 18/04/08   22.   to Webster---Running 11:52  |  Hilda 18/04/08   23.   Yishai Is correct! 11:52  |  eddie 18/04/08   24.   carter is a lying bastard 11:59  |  harzion 18/04/08   25.   #14 Natallie Durson, The Point Is that Carter, a Christian who .. 12:27  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 18/04/08   26.   Eli Yishai is actually a better 12:33  |  Stephen of New York 18/04/08   27.   Well Well-so yesterday`s Rosner poll 12:46  |  examiner 18/04/08   28.   Well Well-so yesterday`s Rosner poll 13:28  |  examiner 18/04/08   29.   Genuine Tosefta #6-9 So what was the punchline 13:30  |  Roo 18/04/08   30.   Natalie, there is no one to talk to on the Palestinian side 14:18  |  Avi 18/04/08   31.   that is possible Indra but... 14:22  |  Avi 18/04/08   32.   So how many? 14:55  |  Walter 18/04/08   33.   The beast 15:04  |  roger wallace 18/04/08   34.   growing peanuts on #11 15:33  |  Shmuelshachor 18/04/08   35.   Yishai wants to bring the government down 17:07  |  Tosefta 18/04/08   36.   yishai there is no need to suck up to carter 17:44  |  harzion 18/04/08   37.   Filling up for the boss accepted ,why not. 18:06  |  Simon 18/04/08   38.   Yishai wants to bring the government down 18:22  |  Tosefta 18/04/08   39.   Israel`s ill treatment of our President has been duely noted 19:01  |  Pablo B 18/04/08   40.   Prisoners 21:13  |  Danny 18/04/08   41.   # 4 pssssst!...hey shmuelshachor... 08:16  |  eric 19/04/08   42.   About the Passover, remember? the promise, mine and yours. 12:39  |  Simon 19/04/08   43.   har zion 00:44  |  shawshank redemption 21/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Israel can't demolish all of Gaza Responses: 353 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Responses: 338 Carter meets Hamas leader, sets out plans for Israel-Hamas truce Responses: 319 Barak: Hamas will pay for attack on Gaza crossing Responses: 450 Rosner's Domain The Passover test and The Passion of Passover Just say no to Carter Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? Clinton: Massive retaliation if Israel attacked (WTR) More Headlines 03:29 Israel to tighten controls at Gaza crossings in wake of attacks 02:35 Assad confirms trading messages with Israel 04:03 Analysis / Keeping Gaza quiet until Independence Day 21:39 Report: Hamas rejects Egyptian plan for truce with Israel 00:13 IDF launches formal probe into Gaza killing of Reuters cameraman 01:50 Obama slams Bush, former pres. Clinton's mideast diplomacy 04:09 Water Authority: Drought years threaten drinking water supplies 01:42 Abbas says will discuss peace agreement with Bush Tuesday 19:33 Jordan's Abdullah to Carter: Israel must lift blockade of Gaza 23:37 Armenian, Greek worshippers come to blows at Jesus' tomb Previous Editions Select Day 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr

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