(FinalCall.com) - Upon announcing that he would embark on a 9-day “study mission” taking him to Israel, the West Bank, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, and mentioning a possible meeting with members of Hamas, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was immediately slammed by critics.

The Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.) called President Carter’s views on the Middle East “warped” in an Associated Press interview and even wrote a letter to him to cancel scheduled meetings with Hamas officials.

Abraham Foxman, director of the Anti-Defamation League, immediately released a statement describing Mr. Carter’s role in issues affecting Israel and American policy in the Middle East as “destructive.”

In an April 14 press briefing, White House press secretary Dana Perino said, “The president believes that if President Carter wants to go, that he is doing so in his own private capacity as a private citizen. He is not representing the United States in those meetings, and the president is not a supporter of having conversations with Hamas. And we have made that known.”

Mr. Carter has ignored the criticism saying his April 13-21 study mission is part of ongoing efforts on behalf of the Carter Center to “support peace, democracy and human rights in the region.” Mr. Carter was an independent observer in the Palestinian elections in 1996, 2005 and 2006 so he is no stranger to realities on the ground and has maintained he is not traveling as a negotiator.

“This is a study mission, and our purpose is not to negotiate, but to support and provide momentum for current efforts to secure peace in the Middle East,” said President Carter. “Our delegation has considerable experience in the region, and we go there with an open mind and heart to listen and learn from all parties.”

The non-profit Carter Center was founded by Mr. Carter and his wife Rosalyn in 1992. In 2005, The Carter Center opened a field office in Ramallah, on Israel’s West Bank in order to monitor the political, economic and humanitarian issues effecting Israel and the Palestinian territories. He is also the author of the book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,” which has been hailed by many independent observers as a balanced and even-handed approach to understanding the complexities within the disputed region. It has been condemned by staunch supporters of Israel as anti-semitic.

Pres. Carter met April 15 with senior Hamas officials in the West Bank and drew the ire of the Israeli and American government by laying a wreath at the grave of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who died in 2004. On April 17, Mr. Carter met with senior Hamas officials in Cairo, Egypt and on April 18, he met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria.

Representative Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recommending the revocation of Mr. Carter’s passport and has vowed to support a measure to withdraw federal funding from the Carter Center.

Andy Polk, press secretary for Rep. Myrick told The Final Call that by meeting with Hamas officials, President Carter is “rewarding” the organization for defying the will of the United Nations, the European Union and some members of the international community who have refused to meet with Hamas until the group renounces terrorism and recognize Israel.

“The U.S. State Department, the Bush administration and Israel all opposed Carter meeting with Hamas. It rewards the terrorists because it gives them credibility for him to go and meet with them,” said Mr. Polk. Former presidents usually respect the policies of the current administration even if they don’t agree with it, and this is one of the first times this has happened. He added. Mr. Polk called Mr. Carter’s laying of wreath at Mr. Arafat’s grave “ridiculous.”

Delinda Hanley, news editor for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs referred to Mr. Carter as a “peacemaker” and “a gentle hero.” Ms. Hanley said his actions are helpful to the peace process. The fact that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior Israeli governmental officials refused to meet with President Carter demonstrates who is really interested in establishing peace, she said.

“You have to talk to people, you can’t close all these doors and expect there to be peace you have to involve everyone in the peace process and Hamas has been shut out,” Ms. Hanley told The Final Call. “It shows me that Israel does not want peace. The fact that they don’t want to speak with him makes you know that they have no intention of making peace ever.”

Ms. Hanley remarked that she just returned from a conference in Doha, Qatar where many Arab leaders expressed admiration for Americans, especially those courageous enough to speak against America’s foreign policy like President Carter.

“The Arabs love him. He is a statesman. He is really revered. He is doing what the whole country should be doing and if he is treated as a pariah when he gets back, we should do everything we can to help him,” said Ms. Hanley

That help may be needed, especially if legislation to cut off federal funding from the Carter Center is successful because it is clear that the Bush administration and the Israeli lobby oppose his actions.

“Why should the federal government support him and his center when he does not support the federal government?” said Mr. Polk.