Jim, if you believe that legitimacy is awarded through the democratic process then, yes, Hamas is legitimate. They gained power in 2006 through an election process.

Although they gained power, it's rival, Fatah, were not willing to cede. Civil unrest, assassinations, civilians deaths (I think almost 1,000). In 2007 Hamas got the upper hand and then started doing humanitarian stuff for the citizens .. food banks, schools, hospitals, etc. For awhile they were popular with the citizenry.

So, while we may not like the idea of a terrorist organization/government, it is still possible for it to be legitimate.

Carter thinks that peace won't be achieved until the world sees Hamas as legitimate. He believes that once the world acknowledges their legitimacy they will lay down their weapons and work peacefully with it's neighbors. He's an ostrich and thinks the Osolo Accord process can work here. Obviously, he doesn't understand the Hamas Charter and the willingness of the "legitimate political actor", Hamas, to carry it through to completion.

I just hope Israel is just as committed to taking out or at least convincing Hamas that they are done with negotiating.