News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Former American President Jimmy Carter asserted Monday that Hamas rejected his suggestion of a 30-day halt in terrorist attacks on Israel because it does not trust Israel to respond in kind. Carter also said Syrian-based Khaled Mashaal told him Hamas would accept a negotiated Palestinian Authority (PA)-Israel agreement "if it is submitted to the Palestinians and the Palestinians approve it."

Israeli and American government officials have rejected Carter's visit as well meaning but damaging. Assistant American Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch told CNN, "Hamas will try to take political advantage of this." Carter also claimed that Hamas is willing to allowed kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit to send a letter to his parents.