Rivlin refuses meeting in Israel with former US president Jimmy Carter
Diplomatic sources says Foreign Ministry recommended president not meet with Carter in light of his "anti-Israel" positions in recent years.
By DANA SOMBERG/MAARIV HASHAVUAFormer US president Jimmy Carter(photo credit: REUTERS)
President Reuven Rivlin has refused to meet with former US president Jimmy Carter during his upcoming visit to the region, due to his stances over recent years seen as "anti-Israel."In recent years, Carter has become one of the most prominent critics of Israel, notably when during last summer's war with Hamas he denounced the IDF's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza as illegitimate.An Israeli diplomatic official told The Jerusalem Post's Hebrew sister publication Ma'ariv that the Foreign Ministry recommended Rivlin not meet with Carter, in order to transmit the message that those who harm Israel will not meet with the president.Carter is reported expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories in the coming weeks.Carter has criticized successive US administrations for failing to clinch an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. He has advocated controversial positions, chief among them that the West should engage Hamas in diplomatic negotiations.Jpost.com staff contributed to this report.
