Former US President Jimmy Carter, generally known for being sympathetic to Israel's rivals, made some surprising statements to settlers on Sunday, during a visit to Gush Etzion.

"I never imagined that Gush Etzion would be transferred to Palestinian hands," Carter said following a meeting with local council leader Shaul Goldstein. He explained that the area is very close to the 1967 armistice line and will likely stay part of Israel forever.

The meeting with Goldstein took place at the latter's home, at Carter's request, and included several prominent members of the Gush Etzion community.

Among the participants were religious leaders Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein and Har Zion yeshiva director Yehoshua Altman. Also there were two women from bereaved families, Ruthi Gillis who lost her husband in the Karmei Tzur terror attack and Sherry Mandel, whose 13-year-old son Koby was killed by terrorists near their home in Tekoa.

The group was joined by a young couple that recently wed, who were there to explain to Carter that restrictions on natural growth in the settlements meant there was no room for them to raise a family in their own community...