LOC21:10
18:10 GMT
RAMALLAH, April 15 (KUNA) -- Former US President, Jimmy Carter said on
Tuesday, that Israel has increased its settlement expansion, breaking promises
it agreed to in the Annapolis Middle East peace talks made in the United
States, last year.
He made the statement in a free lance tour of Al-Bira, which is a
Palestinian city adjacent to Ramallah, that his visit was aimed at "listening
to both sides of the argument", and to give a boost to the Middle East peace
process.
Carter said, that the Israelis did not allow him entry into Hamas-ruled
Gaza, due to the visit which was unofficial.
The ex-president met with exiled Hamas political leader, Khaled Mishal. He
also laid flowers at the grave of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
Carter also met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyadh.
Carter previously met with Israeli President, Shimon Peres, who criticized
him for planning to meet with the Palestinian exiled leader.
Minister of Defense Ehud Barak refused to meet the former US president
claiming that his schedule was too tied up. (end)
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