Legitimizing Hamas: Carter's Visit Sends the Wrong Message
By Matthew Levitt
Yesterday, former President Jimmy Carter embraced West Bank Hamas leader Nasser Shaer, and today he is scheduled to meet Mahmoud Zahar, an avowedly militant Hamas leader from Gaza, in Egypt. The parade of Hamas meetings concludes tomorrow, with the former President meeting the overall head of Hamas, Khaled Mishal, in Damascus.
As I write in today's Weekly's Standard online: Imagine the Alice in Wonderland scene that will take place later this week, when U.S. Secret Service agents entrusted with protecting former president Jimmy Carter stand guard over a meeting with the head of a designated terrorist group responsible for near daily attacks targeting civilians, including numerous attacks in which American citizens have been injured and killed. The former president may have altruistic motives, but his meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mishal is both imprudent and dangerous.
The full article is available here.
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