Carter's Hamas Tour Continues

Tomorrow Jimmy Carter is scheduled to meet with Hamas co-founder Mahmoud Zahar in Cairo before meeting with Khaled Meshaal on Friday. Zahar serves as Foreign Minister in the Palestinian government in Gaza led by Ismail Haniyeh although many believe real power lies with Zahar and Meshaal. Zahar will reportedly tell Carter of his demands that Israel open its border crossings with Gaza and stop its military incursions into Gaza. Of course, an honest broker would tell Zahar he ought to refrain from planning and calling for attacks against Israeli civilians launched from beyond those crossings in Gaza. But don't expect such candor from Carter. No doubt Carter will try to use the meeting to work for the release of Corporal Shalit. But Carter is hardly in a position to promise the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. That is unless he's planning to sneak a dozen suitcases of cash to Zahar and Meshal.