Posted on 04/17/2008 3:03:15 PM PDT by Alouette
Former US president defends meetings with Hamas terrorists, tells university students in Egypt sanctions imposed on Gaza Strip are 'criminal atrocity' after meeting in private with Hamas leaders. 'For every Israeli killed,' says Carter, 'between 30 to 40 Palestinians are killed because of the extreme military capability of Israel'
News agencies Published: 04.18.08, 00:27 / Israel News
Former US President Jimmy Carter called the blockade of Gaza a crime and an atrocity on Thursday and said US attempts to undermine the Islamist movement Hamas had been counterproductive.
Speaking at the American University in Cairo after talks with Hamas leaders from, Carter said Palestinians in Gaza were being "starved to death" and received fewer calories a day than people in the poorest parts of Africa.
"It's an atrocity what is being perpetrated as punishment on the people in Gaza. It's a crime... I think it is an abomination that this continues to go on," Carter said.
Carter said Israel and the US were trying to make the quality of life in Gaza markedly worse than in the West Bank, where the rival Fatah group is in control.
"I think politically speaking this has worked even to strengthen the popularity of Hamas and to the detriment of the popularity of Fatah," he added.
Carter said Hamas, which does not recognize Israel's right to exist, must be involved in any arrangements that could lead to peace.
"One of the reasons I wanted to come and meet with the Syrians and Hamas was to set an example that might be emulated by others... I know that there are some officials in the Israeli government that are quite willing to meet with Hamas and maybe that will happen in the near future," he added, without naming who those Israeli officials may be.
Asked for Qassams to stop
Carter's talks in Cairo were with former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar and former Interior Minister Saeed Seyam, who did not speak to reporters. Hamas officials have touted the meetings as a recognition of their legitimacy after their 2006 election victory.
Carter said he had also asked Hamas officials to stop rocket attacks into Israel.
He said that during his visit to Israel, the first stop on his regional tour, he saw rockets that had been fired by Hamas and ''met with people who lost loved ones.''
''At the same time, if you live in Gaza, you know that for every Israeli killed in any kind of combat, between 30 to 40 Palestinians are killed because of the extreme military capability of Israel,'' Carter said.
There was more criticism of Carter in Washington, where U.S. Congressman Joe Knollenberg, a Republican from Michigan, proposed legislation to prohibit federal funding of the Atlanta, Georgia-based Carter Center. The bill has very little chance of approval.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama also criticized Carter, saying he had a ''fundamental disagreement'' with the former president. ''We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel's destruction,'' Obama said.
In Israel, all the country's senior political leaders except President Shimon Peres declined to meet with Carter when he visited.
He is expected Friday in Syria - the latest stop on a tour he calls a private Mideast peace mission - where he said he will meet with Hamas' exiled political chief Khaled Mashaal, as well as Syrian President Bashar Assad. Afterwards Carter is also to visit Saudi Arabia and Jordan before returning to Israel late Sunday.
Since J. C. thinks he really is J. C., maybe he could pass a basket of loaves and fishes.
Of course, "Osama" Obama wasn't pressed as to why he thinks its OK to negotiate with Iran or Syria, but not with the terrorist groups they support.
Maybe they should try something radical, like exporting more than terror, having a functional economy, educating the population in more than hate....
This is really ridiculous. Why is it Israel’s responsibility to feed, clothe and provide electricity for people who are trying to push them into mthe Mediteranean?
Yes, it is an atrocity that none of their oil rich Arab brothers will help them.
Great rant and I agree in total. Otherwise, I can’t say anything nice about Jimmah so my keyboard is quieted by my upbringing.......
Yet the Palestinians keep on doing the same thing year after year. Talk about being stuck on stupid.
They could have grown food in the greenhouses they destroyed. They are idiots and deserve what they get.
If he gets the Hamas followers to stop lobbing rockets into Israel, his visit is a success. America, where all citizens have the right to free speech, even it´s former Presidents, ought to be given an opportunity to visit even hostile nations. As a Mexican, you´re pretty rude and mean to someone just trying to get the peace process to move along. I tried in October to visit Gaza Territory, I wanted to attend the funeral of a friend who worked in the Bible Society and was murdered by evil people. He never set out to go as an official of the State Dept, just as a concerned private citizen. I respect a guy who can go against ALL of the tide of Washington, and do what he believes is right, even though the whole world considers him a fool. Jimmy Carter, 1 vote in Mexico that you wanted to sit down and listen to a terrorist. Let´s hope the Hamas followers take his advice and stop their home made rockets launched into Israel.
(Think: Patty Murray and the Al Qaeda "day care centers.")
Isn't providing food the most basic "social service"? Where are the "social services" from Hamas? Huh, Jimmy? Where are they?
They don't have to, Israel sends food.
So there must be an equal murder of Jews for this idiot?
How many Jews must die?
Anyone else notice that Jimmah has made the “Deck of Weasels?”
While I have doubts that this statistic is true, but if so, why do the Pali's keep antagonizing Israel if they know this to be true?
At some point the Pali's must decide to quit banging their head against the wall.
Lots of aid coming through but boiled brass is (a) dangerous, and (b) not tasty.
>ought to be given an opportunity to visit even hostile nations
How many written laws is he allowed to break to make you happy, crazy one?
One would think that there would be no palis left alive were that statistic to be true.
Carter must be committed to mental institution! he is truly and totally insane and an enemy of Amrica! and tnat is understandable since he is a Demorat....
” ought to be given an opportunity to visit even hostile nations
How many written laws is he allowed to break to make you happy, crazy one?”
I don’t think the American government should be passing laws about which countries Americans can visit. As free citizens, that’s a choice we can make ourselves.
They should have got a life long ago.
Well Jimmah, your dead buddy Yasser Arafatrat skimmed off billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars that were intended to *help* the Palestinian people, why don’t you see if Rosalyn will give you permission to go meet with Suha Arafatrat and maybe you can sweet talk her into coughing up some of that stolen cash?
Hell Jimmah, you’re worried about those people starving? Buy ‘em some food, use some of the millions received by your Foundation, donated by your Arab admirers and fellow anti-Semites!
Ya cheap sumb!tch!
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