Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Tuesday called for the inclusion of the militant group Hamas in the Middle East peace process, local media reported.
“We believe that Hamas should be included in all the major efforts to peace … It is part of the Palestinian people,” Carter was quoted as saying.
According to Haaretz newspaper, Carter also called on Israel to completely lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip because - he said - Palestinians are ‘living in a cage’ in Gaza.
The former U.S. President made the remarks during his visit to Syria with an international group of veteran statesmen known as the Elders.
The Elders, led by former Irish President Mary Robinson, met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hamas leaders in Damascus. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss the Middle East peace process and the Gaza blockade.
“1.5 million Palestinians are held in a cage or prison while their human rights are taken away,” Carter said. “The blockade is one of the most serious human rights violations on Earth and it must be lifted fully.”
Assad told Carter that Israel is not willing or able to make peace with Palestinians and the Elder were told that people living in the region have very low expectations that the U.S.-led peace talks could succeed.
Hamas is labeled by the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization but despite that, the Elders met with Hamas exiled top official Khaled Meshal. However, as the Elders called for including Hamas in the negotiations, it was revealed that the unification talks between both Palestinian factions were postponed.
Hamas said that a new date will be announced shortly and did not give a reason for the postponement. Last month, the factions announced they have agreed on steps to reconcile and scheduled a meeting for this week in Damascus.
THAINDIAN
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