BarkleUSA
04-15-2008, 05:24 PM
Source (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080415/D902HRSO0.html)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Former President Carter angered Israel's government Tuesday by embracing a Hamas politician during a visit to the West Bank, ignoring Israeli and U.S. designation of the Islamic militants as a terror group. Israel accused Carter, the broker of the first Arab-Israeli peace accord, of "dignifying" extremists. But Carter vowed to meet Hamas' supreme leader this week in Syria.
Carter, a Nobel Peace laureate, also laid a wreath at Yasser Arafat's grave, another break with U.S. policy during a private peace mission to the Middle East that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Syria - where the virulently anti-Israel Hamas movement has its headquarters. Carter returns to Israel on Monday.http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/MIDEAST_ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS_CARTER.sff_JRL116_2008 0415075213.jpg
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, second right lays a wreath at late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's grave in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said he will meet with a Hamas leader in the West Bank. The move signals he has not been cowed by criticism of his plans to meet with the violently anti-Israel group during his Mideast visit. Woman standing next to him is unidentified. (AP Photo/Atef Safadi, Pool)
JERUSALEM (AP) - Former President Carter angered Israel's government Tuesday by embracing a Hamas politician during a visit to the West Bank, ignoring Israeli and U.S. designation of the Islamic militants as a terror group. Israel accused Carter, the broker of the first Arab-Israeli peace accord, of "dignifying" extremists. But Carter vowed to meet Hamas' supreme leader this week in Syria.
Carter, a Nobel Peace laureate, also laid a wreath at Yasser Arafat's grave, another break with U.S. policy during a private peace mission to the Middle East that includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Syria - where the virulently anti-Israel Hamas movement has its headquarters. Carter returns to Israel on Monday.http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/MIDEAST_ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS_CARTER.sff_JRL116_2008 0415075213.jpg
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, second right lays a wreath at late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's grave in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter said he will meet with a Hamas leader in the West Bank. The move signals he has not been cowed by criticism of his plans to meet with the violently anti-Israel group during his Mideast visit. Woman standing next to him is unidentified. (AP Photo/Atef Safadi, Pool)