Former President Carter said he feels "quite at ease" about meeting Hamas militants over the objections of Washington because the Palestinian group is essential to a future peace with Israel.We've been here before, of course. Carter talked to Hamas two years ago. Here's what he had to say back then about the prospects for peace:-
There is little doubt that accommodation with Palestinians can bring full Arab recognition of Israel and its right to live in peace. Any rejectionist policies of Hamas or any terrorist group will be overcome by an Arab commitment to restrain further violence and to promote the wellbeing of the Palestinian people.Things haven't exactly turned out that way - Carter's naive approach to foreign affairs is never more in evidence than when he focuses on the Middle East. His statement at the time that "It will be a tragedy if [Hamas] promotes or condones terrorism" in imagining Hamas might exercise restraint, showed a degree of wishful thinking that I thought was beyond even Carter.
All in all, I don't think Carter talking to Hamas does much harm, to tell you the truth. But his contention that peace can only be secured by bringing Hamas into the negotiations is seriously flawed. Hamas has a very clear position on Israel, it's stated in their charter. Hamas's commitment to the destruction of Israel is not some bargaining position that can be negotiated away by wily diplomacy, it's a central commitment and Hamas are intent on violence to achieve it.
In the context of negotiations this commitment entails a list of demands which in effect involve dismantling the state of Israel. Do that, Hamas says, or face the prospect of perpetual war.
Unless and until they achieve their stated goal, the best that can be expected from Hamas is a temporary and incomplete ceasefire. I can't see that Jimmy Carter meeting with them will do much if anything to promote that.
Update
Neo-neocon also has something to say about Carter's dialogue with Hamas.
