By Stan Goodenough
Apr 15, 2008
Former US President Jimmy Carter arrived in the Middle East Monday on a journey he hopes will pave the way for the terror-group Hamas' acceptance in the western world.
Hamas, which is covenantally-committed to destroying Israel, has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
Since brutally seizing control of the Gaza Strip last year, the group has felt the squeeze of international displeasure, and has been beating around for ways to break the boycott against it without admitting defeat. Its goal is to be able to more deeply entrench itself while continuing its terrorist war against Israel.
Carter's visit will help.
The "peacenik president" has spurned appeals by Israel and other concerned parties that he not meet in Damascus with Hamas arch-terrorist Khaled Meshaal.
I have come here "to promote peace in the region" he said doggedly, arrogantly.
"If Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, Hamas will have to be included in the process."
This is music to Hamas' ears.
In an exclusive WorldNetDaily report Monday night, senior Hamas spokesman Ahmed Youssef was quoted as calling Carter "a noble person" who would indeed help Hamas to "engage with the world community."
"Carter can achieve something no one else can. He is open-minded and has a very noble cause to come and meet with all people," said Youssef, according to WND.
The one-time peanut farmer was, Youssef said craftily, the only one "who really understands the (Israeli-Palestinian) conflict and knows what is needed to achieve peace."
Hamas' Charter spells out that only by erasing Israel from the Muslim Middle East will peace come to the region.
By his actions since Camp David in 1978, Jimmy Carter is seen by many in Israel to clearly concur.