According the the Associated Press, former President Jimmy Carter will visit Syria, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza this week to promote constructive dialogue on the Israeli-Arab conflict. The story went on to say Carter is in the region already as a representative of the nonprofit Carter Center, which works to advance peace and health worldwide. The center is observing the Lebanese elections. Spokeswoman Deanna Congileo told the Associated Press further details of the itinerary will be available later this week. The Carter Center is among a host of international and local missions monitoring the election pitting Western-backed anti-Syrian groups that hold the parliamentary majority against a Hezbollah-led coalition supported by Syria and Iran. According to Deborah Hakes blogging for the Lebanon elections: “Today is election day.”
“Crowds are everywhere, the voting lines are long, and the polls are cramped from all the people. Lebanon’s minister of the interior issued a statement asking the polling stations to try to speed things up.” She continued: “Voters, though, are in very good spirits. People clapped when they saw President Carter. Many thanked him for being here, shook his hand, wanted photos with him, and offered us food at almost every polling station.”
“The press seemed to find President Carter everywhere. Most of all, everywhere the Lebanese people were all very gracious and glad to see our international observers.”
Several news sites and bloggers continue to add their perspective on Twitter:
RAYOLIVERESQ: AP: Jimmy Carter monitoring election in Lebanon asks US & Iran to accept the democratic vote & not interfere with Lebanese voting process
surferjoe2020: Jimmy Carter Is The Greatest ExPresident The U.S Has Ever Had! The Man Is Almost A Saint! Racists Calling Him Names Should Be Ashamed
lbmonitor: (News Photo) Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter speaks to a government employee … http://tinyurl.com/l497qp
Gaza Mom: Beirut like a ghost town today as elections get underway Lebanon News: Hezbollah, allies say lose Lebanon vote: source: reuters http://u.nu/3s6a
LEBANON: Elections entrench sectarian divisions, analysts say : Source: IRIN Sectarianism is playing a more cent.. http://tinyurl.com/nkmzzn
KevinJPrice: Is Jimmy Carter monitoring elections in Lebanon like Castro monitoring Human Rights in Cuba? Or is that too far? #TCOT
For more information, visit: http://www.cartercenter.org/