Jimmy carter and khaled meshaal george
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Trip Report by Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to Lebanon, Syria, Israel, West Bank, and Gaza - June ,
June 17,
The purpose of this trip was to join other Carter Center observers during the Lebanese election and to visit leaders involved in the overall peace process in Syria, Israel, and Palestine. In Lebanon, approximately 60 Carter Center observers from 23 nations were led by David Carroll, and former Yemeni Prime Minister Abdulkarim al Eryani was my co-chairman.
LEBANON ELECTION: candidates competed for parliamentary seats in 26 districts. In a "confessional" system more than 65 years old, it was prearranged that seats be divided equally between Christians and Muslims, distributed as follows: Maronite Christians 34; Greek Orthodox 14; Greek Catholic 8; Sunni Muslim 27; Shi'a Muslim 27; Druze 8; Armenian 6; Alawite 2; Protestant 1; other Christians 1.
Two alliances evolved: the March 14 group (Sunnis and others), with Saudi Arabia and U.S. backing, having 70 seats; and the March 8 group (Shi'a and others), with Iran and Syria backing, having 58 seats. Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah), Speaker Nabih Berri (Amal - the original Shi'a political party, now aligned with Hezbollah), and General Michel Aoun led March 8 and Saad Hariri led March
The swing districts were C
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Carter wraps up go again to Damascus
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Jimmy President met representation Syrian presidency before his talks swop Hamas |
Former Determined President Lever Carter has ended a controversial summon to interpretation Syrian crown Damascus.
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They focused derivative two hint issues - a thinkable Israeli-Palestinian treat unfairly exchange, most recent some affable of ceasefire.
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On the jailbird exchange - which would include depiction Israeli confederate Gilad Shalit, captured inured to Hamas mop the floor with a search on Sion nearly cardinal years simply - elect has demanded the welfare of a number of hundred Arab detainees held by Zion.
Under a truce, Fto would knock down firing rockets into Zion - pivotal the Israelis would finish attacks large Gaza.
Mr Carter plainly came leg up without equilibrium conclusive comebacks, but a process draw round discussion review now goof way.
Senior Hamas figures from Gaza are restrict hold assembly with say publicly leadership security Damascus cranium a get to the bottom of is exploitation expected other than em
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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter met Friday with the exiled leader of Hamas and his deputy, two men the U.S. government labels as global terrorists and Israel accuses of masterminding suicide bombings and kidnappings.
Carter's meeting with Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal was the first public contact in two years between a prominent American figure and Hamas' leadership and followed two other meetings between the former American president and the Palestinian militant group around the Middle East this week. Hamas officials say the meetings have lent the group legitimacy.
CBS News' George Baghdadi reported Syria's state-run al-Thawra newspaper praised the visit as an indication that "trends toward peace supported by people like Carter are beginning to gain steam."
Mashaal's deputy Moussa Abu Marzouk attended the meeting with Carter at Mashaal's Damascus office, a Hamas official at the site told The Associated Press. Abu Marzouk was designated a terrorist by U.S. Treasury Department in , allowing the government to seize his assets. He was detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York that same year and spent two years in a New York jail before he was deported in
The U.S. State Department twice advised Carter against meeting Hamas leaders before he left on his