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Itongadol.- President Reuven Rivlin met on Tuesday with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. At their meeting, Rivlin stressed the importance of a return to direct negotiations with the Palestinians, and warned of the negative consequences that would result from unilateral international initiatives to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Rivlin also voiced his concerns about the emerging nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran.
Meantime, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is trying to mediate between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. To that end, Carter will visit the Gaza Strip and the West Bank this week.
Carter\’s main objective is to get the PA and Hamas to actualize the reconciliation deal they reached last year.
Carter has met with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in the past and, in 2009, visited Gaza and met with Hamas\’ then-Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
Carter has been known for his critical views of Israel\’s policies toward its Arab neighbors and has used the word "apartheid" to describe Israel\’s treatment of the Palestinians.
During Operation Protective Edge last summer, Carter condemned what he referred to as the "humanitarian catastrophe" inflicted on Gaza and urged President Barack Obama to acknowledge Hamas\’ legitimacy in order for it to serve as additional political player in the region.