Carter courts controversy as he meets Hamas leaders

Former US President and prominent Baptist Jimmy Carter has decided to shun the advice of critics by meeting leading figures in the militant Islamist Palestinian group Hamas this week.

The US and Israeli Governments, who both regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation, have expressed their disapproval of Carter's meeting with leading Hamas member Nasser al-Shaer at a reception on Tuesday of prominent Palestinian officials in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The militant group's top political adviser in the Gaza Strip, Ahmed Yousuf, praised Mr Carter for meeting Hamas. He told World Net Daily that Mr Carter was a "noble person" who could "achieve something no one else can".

"He is open-minded and has a very noble cause to come and meet with all people," said Mr Yousuf.

He continued by saying that Carter "should get credit because he is the one who really understands the (Israeli-Palestinian) conflict and knows what is needed to achieve peace".

The US Government has little time for Hamas, whose lengthy and bloody suicide bombing campaign against Israel has left some 250 Israelis dead. Last year, the group found itself even more isolated after its violent takeover of the Gaza Strip.

Mr Yousuf believes that Carter's visit could help end the thaw in relations between Hamas and the international community.

"If he comes and meets Hamas, this will also enhance the image and understanding between America and the Muslim world," he told the news agency.

"Carter's visit is a good step and a positive step in the right direction. It would engage with the world community. To what degree he succeeds depends on the people in Europe and the US."

Carter said earlier in his visit to Israel this week that he was in the region to help find a peaceful solution between Hamas and both its Palestinian rivals and Israel.

"I'm not a negotiator. I'm just trying to understand different opinions and provide communication between people," Carter said, according to The Associated Press.

Referring to a planned meeting with exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal on Friday, he added, "I'm going to try everything I can to get him to agree to a peaceful resolution."