Jimmy Carter backs partition of Jerusalem

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, during a visit to Beirut Friday, said that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state.

After a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and other leaders, Carter said that he supports the Arab initiative put forward in 2002, the Kuwait News Agency, KUNA, reported. He called for a new agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority that would allow Palestinians to return to their homeland.

Most Israeli leaders refuse to consider dividing Jerusalem, which was partitioned prior to the 1967 war.

Carter also offered to help monitor upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon. He said he hopes that the voting will be fair and free of violence.