Israel refused a request by visiting former American President Jimmy Carter to meet with jailed arch-terrorist Marwan Barghouti, Voice of Israel government radio reported. The government made no comment on the report. It previously denied his request to meet with Prime Minster Ehud Olmert, citing "scheduling problems."

Carter visited Israel prior to his planned meeting with Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, overriding objections by the Bush administration. "I think there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process,” Carter told ABC News Sunday.