Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 
Carter Continues to Impress Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, Freedom-Loving People Around the World

A comment on the news by Hassan El-Najjar

ccun.org, April 15, 2008


Former US President Jimmy Carter continues to impress Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and freedom-loving people around the world.

Today, he visited the tomb of the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, paying respect to him and through him to the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom and liberation from the brutal Israeli occupation.

Carter's plan to visit Damascus and meet with the Hamas leader, Khaled Mesha'al, to seek for peace between Palestinians and Israelis distinguishes him from the bluntly biased Bush and his Secretary of State, Condy Rice, who never stopped their support for the Israeli occupation government and its oppressive policies to subjugate the Palestinian people.

Carter's courage in speaking out against the Israeli Apartheid policies, like he did in his book, made him a target of hate from Israeli expansionists and their racist supporters. However, he has not given in to them and to their pressures.

Carter provides another side of America the world rarely knows about, the compassionate and peace-loving Americans, a side which has been obscured by the death, destruction, and greed represented by war mongers.

Long Live Jimmy Carter!
 

US Ex-President Carter visits Arafat's tomb

Date: 15 / 04 / 2008  Time:  16:35
Ramallah – Ma'an –

Former US President Jimmy Carter laid flowers at the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yassir Arafat in an official ceremony at the Muqata'a, the Palestinian presidential compound, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday.

Carter stood in respectful silence for one minute, then remarked on the historic role that Arafat played, saying that Arafat was a personal friend of his. It was the first visit by a high-ranking American official to Arafat's grave.

The Secretary-General of the Palestinian Presidency, At-Tayyib Abdul-Rahim, applauded Carter for visiting the occupied Palestinian territories.

Another spokesperson of the Palestinian Presidency noted that, in accordance with the late president's wishes, Arafat's tomb will be moved to Jerusalem when it is liberated.

Carter visits Ramallah, meets a Hamas official

Tuesday April 15, 2008 15:36 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Former US President, Jimmy Carter, arrived on Tuesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah and laid flowers on the grave of the late Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat.

During the visit, Carter met a senior Hamas official, angering Israeli officials who were already upset by his privately sponsored Middle East visit.

Carter also laid a wreath at the grave of the late Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat.

At a reception in the West Bank city of Ramallah, organized by Carter's office, the former president hugged Nasser Al-Sha’er, a senior Hamas political figure, as he greeted him.

In the Arab culture, shaking hands and hugging between meeting men is a common custom which indicates mutual respect and honor.

“We hugged each other, and it was a warm reception", Al-Sha’er told The Associated Press, "Carter asked what can he do to achieve peace in the region, and I told him the possibility for peace is high."

Carter's office refused to comment, saying the office does not discuss closed meetings.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor, slammed the meeting between Carter and Al-Sha’er.

After visiting Israel and the West Bank, Carter plans to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. 

Carter urged the United States and Israel to stop the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and to stop the isolation of Hamas movement, his visit and statements were slammed by both the United States and Israel.

 He stated that Syria and Hamas movement will be involved in the final peace agreement, therefore, they should be involved the peace process.

 

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