News Reports Jimmy Carter to Meet with Hamas Leader, RJC Urges Presidential Contenders to Oppose
Washington, D.C. (April 9, 2008) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) today called on Sens. Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama to speak out in opposition to former President Jimmy Carter's possible plans to visit with Hamas terror chief Khaled Meshal in Syria. As reported by FOX News, the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat reported Tuesday that Carter is planning a trip to Syria in mid-April and will be meeting with Meshal.
"It is unacceptable that a former American president would choose to dignify and legitimize Hamas leader Khaled Meshal with a visit. Hamas is a designated terrorist organization that denies Israel's right to exist, kidnaps Israeli soldiers, fires rockets on Israeli towns, is responsible for the deaths of American citizens and celebrated in the streets of Gaza after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Meshal has even called Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 'courageous' for denying the Holocaust," said RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks.
"As presidential contenders who have pledged to protect America and stand with our ally, Israel, we urge Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama to speak out forcefully against former President Carter's possible meeting with Khaled Meshal and to ask him not to have this meeting," said Brooks.