Bush: Hamas undermines Mideast peace

WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush declined to take former President Jimmy Carter to task for meeting with Hamas last week.

At a Rose Garden news conference Tuesday, Bush said the problem in the Middle East is Hamas, adding that he hadn't consulted with Carter and doesn't think the former president's actions will have any impact on Bush's upcoming trip to the region.

"Foreign policy and peace are undermined by Hamas in the Middle East. They're the ones undermining peace," Bush said, adding, "That's why I'm not talking to them."

Bush said you have to ask why Hamas keeps lobbing rockets into Israel, attempting to provoke a response that will scuttle talks aimed at creating a Palestinian state.

Bush also cited the situation in Lebanon, saying Syria and Hezbollah, which is under the influence in Iran, are trying to destablilize this "struggling democracy in the heart of the Middle East."