Hamas debates Carter's proposals for flexibility

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Hamas engaged in an internal debate on Saturday over proposals put forth by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter for a unilateral ceasefire with Israel and more political flexibility, Palestinian politicians said.

Carter left the Syrian capital on Saturday for Riyadh after an early morning meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.

Carter and Meshaal held more than four hours of talks on Friday night that discussed how the Islamist group could be drawn into a Middle East peace plan and drop its opposition to peace talks between Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the rival Fatah faction.

Carter demanded that Hamas stops firing rockets on Israel while he pursues efforts with Israel and the West to lift the siege on the Gaza strip, which is ruled by Hamas, politicians familiar with the meetings said.

"Carter also asked Meshaal to adopt more flexible public statements and talked to him as a leader of a national liberation movement, not as the terrorist Israel and America try to depict him as being," one of the sources told Reuters.

"Meshaal is a first among equals in Hamas. He has to secure agreement from the rest of the Hamas leadership," he added.

Carter's willingness to meet officials from Hamas has drawn criticism from Israel and the United States, which both regard as a terrorist group.

Hamas is led by Meshaal and other exiled politburo members, as well as members with presence on the ground in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Hamas also has links with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in Egypt.