On Friday Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State, slammed ex-US president Jimmy Carter for planning to meet Hamas official during his imminant visit to the region. A press release was issued several days ago saying that Jimmy Carter is planning to lead a study tour to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in a continued effort to support peace, democracy and human rights in the region. Carter has not confirmed is he is going to meet any Hamas officials. Hamas sources in Syria told media agencies that the former US president sent representatives to Damascus and requested a meeting with Hamas leaders there. Although Secretary Rice did not mention Jimmy Carter by name she answered questions regarding his planned meeting with Hamas by Saying " I find it hard to understand what is going to be gained by having discussions with Hamas about peace when Hamas is, in fact, the impediment to peace." Rice made her comments during a meeting in Germany with officials Friday. Ex-US president Carter was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his roll in mediating conflicts and his humanitarian travels for the Carter Center, Carter also have written a book about the Israeli wall, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" which was released in 2007.
