N.O.R.F Posted December 12, 2006 Israel, Palestine, peace and apartheid Americans need to know the facts about the abominable oppression of the Palestinians Jimmy Carter Tuesday December 12, 2006 The Guardian The many controversial issues concerning Palestine and the path to peace for Israel are intensely debated among Israelis and throughout other nations - but not in the United States. For the past 30 years, I have witnessed and experienced the severe restraints on any free and balanced discussion of the facts. This reluctance to criticise policies of the Israeli government is due to the extraordinary lobbying efforts of the American-Israel Political Action Committee and the absence of any significant contrary voices. It would be almost politically suicidal for members of Congress to espouse a balanced position between Israel and Palestine, to suggest that Israel comply with international law or to speak in defence of justice or human rights for Palestinians. Very few would deign to visit the Palestinian cities of Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Gaza City or Bethlehem and talk to the beleaguered residents. What is even more difficult to comprehend is why the editorial pages of the major newspapers and magazines in the US exercise similar self-restraint, quite contrary to private assessments expressed forcefully by their correspondents in the Holy Land. My new book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, is devoted to circumstances and events in Palestine and not in Israel, where democracy prevails and citizens live together and are legally guaranteed equal status. It is already possible to judge public and media reaction. Sales are brisk, and I have had interesting interviews on TV. But I have seen few news stories in major newspapers about what I have written. Book reviews in the mainstream media have been written mostly by representatives of Jewish organisations who would be unlikely to visit the occupied territories, and their primary criticism is that the book is anti-Israel. Two members of Congress have been publicly critical. Some reviews posted on Amazon.com call me "anti-semitic," and others accuse the book of "lies" and "distortions". A former Carter Centre fellow has taken issue with it, and Alan Dershowitz called the book's title "indecent". Out in the real world, however, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. The book describes the abominable oppression and persecution in the occupied Palestinian territories, with a rigid system of required passes and strict segregation between Palestine's citizens and Jewish settlers in the West Bank. An enormous imprisonment wall is now under construction, snaking through what is left of Palestine, to encompass more and more land for Israeli settlers. In many ways, this is more oppressive than what black people lived under in South Africa during apartheid. I have made it clear that the motivation is not racism but the desire of a minority of Israelis to confiscate and colonise choice sites in Palestine, and then to forcefully suppress any objections from the displaced citizens. Obviously, I condemn acts of terrorism or violence against innocent civilians, and I present information about the casualties on both sides. The ultimate purpose of my book is to present facts about the Middle East that are largely unknown in America, to precipitate discussion and help restart peace talks (now absent for six years) that can lead to permanent peace for Israel and its neighbours. Another hope is that Jews and other Americans who share this goal might be motivated to express their views, even publicly, and perhaps in concert. I would be glad to help with that effort. · Jimmy Carter was US president from 1977-81. His book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid was published last month. This is an edited version of an article that first appeared in the Los Angeles Times carterweb@emory.nu hear - read comments by readers at bottom of page Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baashi Posted December 12, 2006 It takes a courage to stand up to the Jewish power in the states. Carter has balls to tell it as it is. The real question: can he put up with what is in the pipe? Kudos to the man. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ibtisam Posted December 12, 2006 Carter defends criticism of Israel Carter criticised Israel's building of the separation barrier in the West Bank Jimmy Carter, the ex-US president, has defended his criticisms of Israeli policy in his latest book, saying he hopes to erode the "impenetrable wall" that stops Americans from seeing the true plight of the Palestinian people. His book has been criticised by pro-Israeli groups and led to the resignation of Kenneth Stein, a Carter Centre fellow. Carter said he hoped Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid would provoke a debate on Israeli policy. Jewish groups have launched petitions criticising Carter's use of the word "apartheid" - the system of racial separation once used in South Africa - to describe Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. Carter said that debate had been stifled by the media and others. "It's almost a universal silence concerning anything that might be critical of current policies of the Israeli government," he said. "Worse than apartheid" Carter said he stands by his use of the "apartheid" and cited the fences, electric sensors and concrete slabs that Israel has built in the West Bank as an example of the divide. "It's almost a universal silence concerning anything that might be critical of current policies of the Israeli government." Jimmy Carter, former US president "I think it's worse, in many ways, than apartheid in South Africa," Carter said. The book follows the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, starting with Carter's 1977-1980 presidency and the Camp David peace accord he negotiated between Israel and Egypt. It blames Israel, the Palestinians, the US and many others, but it is most critical of Israel. Stein, an Emory University professor, sent a letter to Carter claiming the book was "one-sided" and "is not based on unvarnished analysis; it is replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments." "Tremendous intimidation" Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, lamented the lack of discussion of Israeli policy in the US. "There's a tremendous intimidation in this country that has silenced our people. And it's not just individuals, it's not just folks who are running for office. It's the news media as well," he said. Carter, who has led efforts to monitor several elections in the Palestinian Territories since leaving office, said bringing peace to the Middle East is the most important commitment in his public life. ---------------------------------- Thank goodness for Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy! At least they are in a position to speak impartially and honestly. You can see the video, where the old man gets bullied here, it is very sad, seriously. http://www.mpacuk.org/content/view/3110/34/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
