A senior Hamas movement's leader revealed on Friday that former US President Jimmy Carter presented to the movement a proposal to hold direct dialogue between Hamas and the United States.

Carter paid a significant visit to the Hamas-ruled Gaza on Tuesday, and held talks with Hamas leaders and presented a printed text of a proposal that overcomes the international Quartet's requirements and leads to direct dialogue with the United States.

Mushir el-Masri, a Gaza Hamas lawmaker said in a press statement that Carter's paper is under studying and discussion, adding "accepting the proposal is linked to achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinians."

He stressed that his movement "would never accept by all means any proposal that contradicts with the legitimate rights of our people and their aspirations. Hamas told Carter that it accepts a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967.

Meanwhile, Hamas sources in Gaza revealed that Carter presented a one-page proposal that calls on Hamas to accept the Arab peace initiative of 2002 and accept that final goal of the Roadmap plan, which is the two-state solution.

Carter told Hamas leaders that if they accept the two suggestions, this will lead to a direct contact with the US administration and will lead to lift the political and financial embargo on Hamas, said the sources.

Exiled Hamas politburo Khaled Meshaal, is scheduled to address an articular speech from Damascus on Saturday. Hamas sources said Meshaal will present the future vision of his movement towards the new movements in the Middle East.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2009)