Everyone from the State Department to the mayor of rocket-besieged Sderot in Israel has been trying to tell Jimmy Carter that he’s making a very serious mistake by having a high-profile meeting with Hamas thug Khaled Meshaal. But Jimmy doesn’t want to hear it: Carter wants US talks with Hamas.

AIRPORT CITY, Israel - Former President Jimmy Carter said he hoped to help open talks between Hamas and U.S. leaders, saying Washington’s policy of not meeting with people it labeled terrorists was counterproductive.

He angered Israelis with his plans to meet in Syria this week with the leader of the Islamist group, which rules Gaza and is largely responsible for rocket fire against Israeli towns. Hamas has killed some 250 Israelis in suicide bombings and has been blacklisted by the U.S. and Israel as a terrorist organization.

Speaking at an event organized by an Israeli financial newspaper, Carter said he wanted to become a “communicator” between Hamas and the U.S. “I hope then the Israeli government will deign to meet with me — they have so far refused,” he said.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters that the U.S. has “made clear our views that we did not think now is the moment for him or anyone to be talking with Hamas.” Casey said any meeting with Hamas officials is “something we’ve counseled against. But he is a private citizen, and it certainly is his decision.”