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| By Israel Insider staff April 13, 2008 |
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During his meeting with Jimmy Carter Sunday, Israeli President Shimon Peres sharply criticized the former US president for his latest book in which he called Israel an apartheid state. Peres said Carter's activities over the last few years had caused grave damage to Israel and the peace process. He said that Carter's planned meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Damascus would be a "severe mistake," calling Mashaal a "murderer and terrorist."
Carter, evidently unfazed by the sharp criticism from Israel's dovish President, also a Nobel laureate, said he felt "quite at ease" about meeting Mashaal because, in his opinion, Hamas is essential to a future peace with Israel. "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 said in a TV interview with ABC earlier in the day.
Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction and has carried out dozens of suicide bombings that have killed more than 250 Israelis. Israel has no formal contacts with the Islamic militant group, whose violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June undercut efforts by Israel and the Palestinians to strike a peace deal.
Even more outspoken was the Israeli opposition leader. For the past two to three years, Carter has embarked upon "a crusade of hate against Israel," Uzi Arad, an adviser to parliamentary opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, told Israel Radio.
"There is no doubt that Jimmy Carter as a former president should be greeted as a matter of protocol, but it does not mean that the prime minister, the foreign minister and certainly the opposition leader have to meet him," Arad said.
However, Noam Schalit, father of captured soldier Gilad Schalit, imprisoned by Hamas for more than 650 days, also met with Carter, reasoning that because the former president is not considered pro-Israeli, he may be able to get to individuals and raise ideas that may be looked upon with suspicion if they came from more pro-Israeli officials. |
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