WASHINGTON, 21 February 2006 — Former US President Jimmy Carter is cautioning the US and Israel to not punish the Palestinian people for electing a Hamas-led government.

“During this time of fluidity in the formation of the new government, it is important that Israel and the United States play positive roles,” Carter wrote yesterday in a Washington Post editorial.

Despite Hamas’ success, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas retains considerable constitutional control in the political and security spheres, said Carter, who believes Hamas will appoint moderates or technocrats to the Cabinet and prime ministership and focus its influence on the legislature.

But he warns “any tacit or formal collusion between Israel and the US to disrupt the process by punishing the Palestinian people could be counterproductive and have devastating consequences.” Unfortunately, these steps are already under way” added Carter, whose human rights organization monitored the recent Palestinian elections.

Noting with disdain Israel’s decision to withhold over $50 million per month that the Palestinians earn from customs and tax revenue, Carter said an even greater aggravation by the Israelis “is their decision to hinder movement of elected Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council members through any of more than a hundred Israeli checkpoints around and throughout the Palestinian territories.” Carter also criticized the Bush Administration for not agreeing to bypass the government and allow funds be channeled through NGOs.

US officials have said all its funding for the new government will be withheld, including money that would go to pay schoolteachers, police and hospital staff.

“This common commitment to eviscerate the government of elected Hamas officials by punishing private citizens may accomplish this narrow purpose, but the likely results will be to alienate the already oppressed and innocent Palestinians, to incite violence, and to increase the domestic influence and international esteem of Hamas.

It will certainly not be an inducement to Hamas or other militants to moderate their policies,” said Carter.

He also criticized Israel for avoiding peace talks not just with Hamas, but with past leaders who did recognize Israel’s right to exist as an independent and free country.

“The election of Hamas candidates cannot adversely affect genuine peace talks, since such talks have been non-existent for over five years,” he said.

But if Israel is willing to include the Palestinians, he argues, Abbas could still play the negotiating role — as Yasser Arafat did before him — in his role of leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization.