The Daily Star Editorial
12 April 2008
The news that former President Jimmy Carter might meet with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus next week has generated a great deal of unnecessary and unjustifiable criticism in both the United States and Israel. The Carter Center has stated that the objectives of his visit, which it called a “study mission,” are “not to negotiate but to support and provide momentum for current efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.” Any effort aimed at informing and bolstering the currently impaired peace effort ought to be warmly welcomed by all sides.
Unfortunately, though, the US government, which is allegedly playing the role of an impartial mediator, has advised Carter against meeting with Meshaal. The US State Department has said that it had discouraged him from such a move because it would only “embolden terrorists and undermine the cause of peace.”