By KUNA,
Damascus : Former US President Jimmy Carter has held talks with the politburo chief of the Palestinian Islamic movement, Hamas, Khaled Meshaal on prospects of reaching a viable truce in the Palestinian territories.
A Hamas source told KUNA that Carter reviewed with Meshaal some proposed plans, worked out by members of his delegation and advisors from the Islamic organisation at an overnight meeting here.
The source said senior Hamas leaders, Mahmoud Al-Zahar and Saeed Siam, would arrive in the Syrian capital later Saturday to hold meetings with other leaders of the movement to “try reach a final stance toward the proposals” to enforce a viable cease-fire, release the Israeli soldier, swap prisoners and lift the siege on Gaza.
Hamas’ stance on the proposals would be conveyed to Carter, due to proceed to Saudi Arabia and Jordan before the final leg of his regional tour, Israel.
Carter, on a regional informal mission intended to test waters for a possible viable settlement, held talks late on Friday with Meshaal after holding a meeting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, related to the Palestinian crisis and other regional affairs.
Mohammad Nazzal, member of the politburo, said in a statement that the meeting between Carter and Meshaal “was cordial and free of public relations getsures,” and confirmed that they dealt with the aspired truce, ending the blockade and the prisoners’ swap.
“Nothing will be offered free and the Israelis should present something,” he said when asked on a possible deal to cease firing missiles in exchange for freeing the Israeli soldier.