Jimmy Carter says US must talk with Hamas

White House attacked Carter after he left for trip

Jimmy Carter says his recent meetings with Hamas were neccessary if there ever is going to be peace in the region.

Carter said he wrung a promise from the Hamas leadership in Syria that the group would honor a peace with Israel if it was approved by Palestinians in a referendum.

WASHINGTON -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Tuesday denied his recent meetings with Hamas in the Middle East legitimized the militant Islamic group.

In an interview with Voice of America, Carter said both Americans and Israeli Jews recognize the need to engage Hamas in negotiations if there ever is going to be peace in the region.

"My visit didn't legitimize or de-legitimize anybody," Carter said. "Hamas was legitimized by the fact that in the election two years ago, in 2006, they ran for public office all over Palestine, the West Bank and Gaza, in an open election that was supported by the United States, approved by Israel and the other Palestinians, and they won."

Carter noted in a poll of Israeli Jews, 64 percent said Israel should be negotiating with Hamas full-time. He also cited a CNN poll indicating 70 percent of Americans approved of his recent trip to the Middle East.

Carter said he wrung a promise from the Hamas leadership in Syria that the group would honor a peace with Israel if it was approved by Palestinians in a referendum.

Carter said he informed the State Department of his plans before he left for the Middle East and no one tried to dissuade him, except to caution against travel to Gaza for security reasons.