http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/16/bomb-plot-carter-gaza-discovered/
FOXNews.com
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Hamas has discovered two roadside bombs planted near a crossing between Israel and Gaza on a path former President Jimmy Carter's convoy took to meet with the group's leaders, a Palestinian source told FOX News on Tuesday.
According to the source, the bombs were intended to hit Carter's vehicle as he exited Gaza. There is some suspicion that Hamas extremists identified with Al Qaeda may be behind the attempt.
The former president and chief U.S. defender of the designated terror group will urge the Obama administration to remove Hamas from the terrorist list, FOX News has learned.
Carter will meet with officials in the Obama administration in two days to discuss his latest trip to the Middle East.
Carter said he feels personally responsible that American weapons were used to fight in Gaza last year, when Israeli Defense Forces entered the strip to stop the launch of rockets from there into Israel.
Carter is also trying to persuade Hamas leaders to accept the international community's conditions for ending its boycott of the Islamic militant group.
The international community has asked Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous peace deals as part of ongoing efforts for Palestinians overall to acquire their own country. Hamas has refused.
Hamas is considered a terrorist group by the U.S. and Europe and has been shunned by much of the world. Israel and Egypt have kept Gaza's borders virtually closed since Hamas overran the territory in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew from the territory in a handover to Palestinians.