Carter Visits Gaza
By VOA News
16 June 2009
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Tuesday to meet with officials who run the territory.
Mr. Carter is expected to give Hamas a letter from the family of Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was captured in the Gaza Strip in 2006. The soldier has become a focal point in efforts to mediate a long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The former U.S. president stopped briefly in a northeastern Gaza neighborhood Tuesday to inspect the damage from a major Israeli military offensive there about six months ago. He is also expected to visit a hospital and meet with members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
In other news, U.S. President Barack Obama said he now sees the possibility that serious Mideast peace talks can be restarted.
On Sunday, Isreal's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would endorse a separate Palestinian state as long as it has no military force and recognizes Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people.
President Obama acknowledged the conditions Mr. Netanyahu attached to Palestinian statehood, but said they could be discussed in negotiations.
Palestinian leaders said Monday the Israeli leader's position stands in the way of any prospect for peace.
Palestinians were disappointed by Mr. Netanyahu's demand that they recognize Israel as a Jewish state and his refusal to halt the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Mr. Obama on Monday repeated his call for Israel to stop settlement activity. The U.S. president said both sides will have to move in politically difficult ways to achieve what will be in the long-term best interests of Israelis and Palestinians.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
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