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 holding talks with exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria.
Mr Carter met President Bashar al-Assad after arriving in Damascus as part of his tour of the region to discus the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ways of including Hamas in peace talks and the fate of an Israeli prisoner are expected to be on the agenda.
He has met Hamas officials in Egypt and Israeli President Shimon Peres, but was snubbed by other senior Israelis.
Mr Carter has also met the Syrian and Israeli presidents during his Middle East tour to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, Israeli industry minister Eli Yishai has since told Mr Carter he is willing to meet Hamas for talks.
Other senior Israelis have snubbed Mr Carter, but one minister has said he is willing to break policy and meet Hamas.
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 about the release of an Israeli soldier.
Mr Carter, awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, brokered the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, the first in between Israel and an Arab state.
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 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".
'Forgotten lessons'
Israeli industry minister Eli Yishai told Mr Carter he was willing to meet Hamas for talks - including Mr Meshaal - to discuss the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
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 Mr 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
Other cabinet ministers have raised doubts about Mr Yishai being allowed to negotiate a prisoner deal alone.
Other cabinet ministers have raised doubts about Mr Yishai being allowed to negotiate a prisoner deal alone.
Khaled Meshaal has said Hamas wants a mutual ceasefire
Israel's welfare minister, Yitzak Hertzog, accused Mr Carter of lending credibility to what some countries class as a terrorist group.
Israel's welfare minister, Yitzak Hertzog, accused Mr Carter of lending credibility to what some countries class as a terrorist group.
"He's giving this image some sort of recognition with one of the world's most brutal arch terrorists and, worst of all, I think Jimmy Carter is forgetting the lessons of 9/11," he said.
"He's giving this image some sort of recognition with one of the world's most brutal arch terrorists and, worst of all, I think Jimmy Carter is forgetting the lessons of 9/11," he said.
"And Jimmy Carter, in a way, is forgetting his own legacy."
"And Jimmy Carter, in a way, is forgetting his own legacy."
Mr Carter, awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, brokered the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, the first in between Israel and an Arab state.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
