NEW YORK, April 13: Former US President Jimmy Carter has declared his intention to meet Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal during an upcoming trip to the Middle East, saying the Hamas group must be included in the peace process in the region.

In a interview with ABC News programme this week, Mr Carter also asserted that the US should not boycott the China Olympics this year under pressure from the lobbyists.

On his proposed meeting with Hamas faction of Palestinians, Mr Carter said: ‘’It’s very important that at least someone meet the Hamas leaders to express their views, to ascertain what flexibility they have, to try to induce them to stop all attacks against civilians in Israel and to cooperate with the Fatah as a group that unites the Palestinians.’’

“There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbours, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process,” Mr Carter added. “I think someone should be meeting with Hamas to see what we can do to encourage them to be cooperative and to find out what their attitude.”

The former president was also quick to point out that his trip is not an official visit, and comes out of the ongoing work of a Carter Centre project to promote peace in the Middle East.