Former United States President Jimmy Carter arrived in Gaza on Tuesday for meetings with local heads of the ruling Hamas terrorist organization. He denounced Israel's closures of the Gaza Crossings and slammed the damage he saw from the counterterrorist IDF Cast Lead operation conducted in January to put an end to the rocket attacks on Jewish civilians in the western Negev.
Carter's visit followed Monday's talks with the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. The former president pledged before leaving Jerusalem to attempt to secure a sign of life from kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Shalit was kidnapped in 2006 as he took part in a routine patrol outside Gaza. Carter has previously brought letters from Shalit's family to Hamas heads in Gaza, and in 2008 convinced Hamas to release a letter purportedly written by Shalit.
Hamas spokesman Fauzi Barhoum said Monday that the group has not committed to work with Carter on matters regarding Shalit. Carter plans to bring a letter from Shalit's family to Hamas, but the letter may not be delivered, Barhoum warned.
Carter Angers MKs, Eldad Questions Motives
Carter angered several MKs during Monday's committee meeting when he spoke of Hamas as a legitimate ruling body. Earlier in the week Carter said that Israel must talk with Hamas, telling AFP, “I don't believe there is any possibility to have peace between Palestinians and Israel unless Hamas is directly involved, with Fatah.”
Israel has demanded that Hamas renounce terrorism and accept Israel's existence before direct dialogue can commence. Indirect negotiations have been held with help from Egyptian mediators.
MK Aryeh Eldad surprised Carter by questioning his motives, suggesting that funding from Arab countries had influenced his views. Eldad cited U.S. Professor Alan Dershowitz, who has said that Carter's Carter Center was established and is maintained primarily through donations from Arab countries, principal among them Saudi Arabia.
Dershowitz has also asserted that the donations from Arab countries have influenced Carter's activities, leading him to harshly criticize Israel while ignoring Arab abuses. Eldad asked Carter to respond to Dershowitz's criticism, and to confirm or deny the effect that Arab funding has had on his political activities.
Carter denied Dershowitz's claims regarding funding for his Carter Center, and stated that only 2.3 percent of his funding comes from Arab countries. More than 2.3 percent of his funding is provided by U.S. Jews, he added.
Current Gaza Guest: Tony Blair
One day before Carter's scheduled visit, Quartet Envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Gaza. Blair stressed that his visit would be humanitarian in nature; he is not expected to meet with Hamas.
Blair is visiting Gaza for the second time since assuming his role as envoy for the international Quartet. During his previous visit he avoided meeting with Hamas, focusing instead on humanitarian projects in the area.