Former US President Jimmy Carter is in Syria, where he is due to meet exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal.
Former US President Jimmy Carter is in Syria, where he is due to meet exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal.
Mr Carter is on a tour of the region and has met Hamas officials in Egypt and Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Mr Carter is on a tour of the region and has met Hamas officials in Egypt and Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Correspondents say Mr Carter has been snubbed by other senior Israeli leaders because of the meeting with Mr Meshaal.
Correspondents say Mr Carter has been snubbed by other senior Israeli leaders because of the meeting with Mr Meshaal.
But Israeli industry minister Eli Yishai has told Mr Carter he is willing to meet Hamas leaders to negotiate the release of prisoners held by the group.
But Israeli industry minister Eli Yishai has told Mr Carter he is willing to meet Hamas leaders to negotiate the release of prisoners held by the group.
His spokesman said Mr Yishai had passed the proposal to Mr Carter ahead of his trip to Syria, saying he was "ready to meet with all necessary Hamas members" - including Mr Meshaal - for talks.
His spokesman said Mr Yishai had passed the proposal to Mr Carter ahead of his trip to Syria, saying he was "ready to meet with all necessary Hamas members" - including Mr Meshaal - for talks.
Were Jimmy Carter to have met with me, and two days later with Khaled Meshaal, it could have created a facade of negotiations between us and Hamas Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister
Were Jimmy Carter to have met with me, and two days later with Khaled Meshaal, it could have created a facade of negotiations between us and Hamas Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister
Palestinian militant groups including Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a raid into Israel two years ago.
Palestinian militant groups including Hamas captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a raid into Israel two years ago.
Such a meeting involving Mr Yishai - the leader of the orthodox Shas party - would be against Israeli government policy. Shas is an important member of the governing coalition in Israel, holding four cabinet posts.
Such a meeting involving Mr Yishai - the leader of the orthodox Shas party - would be against Israeli government policy. Shas is an important member of the governing coalition in Israel, holding four cabinet posts.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper he did not meet Mr Carter as it would have been perceived as negotiations with Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper he did not meet Mr Carter as it would have been perceived as negotiations with Hamas.
"Were Jimmy Carter to have met with me, and two days later with Khaled Meshaal, it could have created a facade of negotiations between us and Hamas," he said.
"Were Jimmy Carter to have met with me, and two days later with Khaled Meshaal, it could have created a facade of negotiations between us and Hamas," he said.
Khaled Meshaal has said Hamas wants a mutual ceasefire
Khaled Meshaal has said Hamas wants a mutual ceasefire
Cabinet minister Rafi Eitan said he doubted that Mr Yishai would be allowed to negotiate a prisoner deal alone.
Cabinet minister Rafi Eitan said he doubted that Mr Yishai would be allowed to negotiate a prisoner deal alone.
"Every cabinet minister has to keep in line with the government resolutions," he told Israel Radio, Reuters reports.
"Every cabinet minister has to keep in line with the government resolutions," he told Israel Radio, Reuters reports.
Mr Meshaal, who survived an assassination attempt by Israeli agents in 1997, became Hamas political chief after Israeli's killing of the group's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in March 2004.
Mr Meshaal, who survived an assassination attempt by Israeli agents in 1997, became Hamas political chief after Israel's killing of the group's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, in March 2004.
He has said that Hamas accepts and supports the Arab peace initiative, which offers peace and recognition to Israel in return for a full withdrawal from the land captured in 1967 in the West Bank, the dismantling of Jewish settlements and the establishment of a Palestinian state with a capital in east Jerusalem.
He has said that Hamas accepts and supports the Arab peace initiative, which offers peace and recognition to Israel in return for a full withdrawal from the land captured in 1967 in the West Bank, the dismantling of Jewish settlements and the establishment of a Palestinian state with a capital in east Jerusalem.
He says Hamas wants a mutual ceasefire, that would also include the West Bank and which would reopen Gaza's borders - but anything else would be Israel dictating a Palestinian "surrender".
He says Hamas wants a mutual ceasefire, that would also include the West Bank and which would reopen Gaza's borders - but anything else would be Israel dictating a Palestinian "surrender".
Talks needed
Talks needed
The United States, which is trying to isolate Hamas, has distanced itself from Mr Carter's trip, saying it is in a personal capacity and not helpful to the peace process.
The United States, which is trying to isolate Hamas, has distanced itself from Mr Carter's trip, saying it is in a personal capacity and not helpful to the peace process.
Mr Carter is also expected to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his visit. After Syria, he is due to travel to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Mr Carter is also expected to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his visit. After Syria, he is due to travel to Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
The former US president has said he is not trying to mediate in the Arab-Israeli conflict, but believes peace will not be achieved without talking to Hamas and Syria.
The former US president has said he is not trying to mediate in the Arab-Israeli conflict, but believes peace will not be achieved without talking to Hamas and Syria.
Israel, the US and the European Union consider the Islamist militant movement Hamas a terrorist organisation, refuse to deal with it directly and all pursue policies to isolate it.
Israel, the US and the European Union consider the Islamist militant movement Hamas a terrorist organisation, refuse to deal with it directly and all pursue policies to isolate it.
Mr Carter brokered the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, the first in between Israel and an Arab state.
Mr Carter brokered the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, the first in between Israel and an Arab state.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for "decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development".
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for "decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development".
Do you live in the region? What do you hope Mr Carter's visit will achieve? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.
Do you live in the region? What do you hope Mr Carter's visit will achieve? Send us your comments by filling out the form below.
