The announcement came during Jimmy Carter's trip to the middle east. He met with Hamas, much to the chagrin of Israeli and the US administrations. Carter discussed the move after a meeting with Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal.

Mashaal said that Hamas will offer a 10-year truce with Israel if it withdraws from lands seized in the 1967 war.

Carter warned that Israel and the US should not continue to shut out Hamas and Syria from the peace process. Syria is Hamas's chief sponsor. Quotes

1. Carter: "They [Hamas] said that they would accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, if approved by Palestinians and that they would accept the right of Israel to live as a neighbor next door in peace"
2. '"The problem is that Israel and the United States refuse to meet with these people, who must be involved,"
3. Khaled Marsaal: ""We agree to a (Palestinian) state on pre-67 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital with genuine sovereignty without settlements but without recognizing Israel"

1. Carter's meeting with Hamas criticized by Israeli and US administrations
2. Ehud Olmert refused to see Carter on his middle east visit
3. Carter has been a critic of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians
4. Carter helped negotiate a 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt