Jimmy Carter - A New Chance for Peace?

[Englander]

By Jimmy Carter
Thursday, January 18, 2007; Page A23

I am concerned that public discussion of my book "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid" has been diverted from the book's basic proposals: that peace talks be resumed after six years of delay and that the tragic persecution of Palestinians be ended. Although most critics have not seriously disputed or even mentioned the facts and suggestions about these two issues, an apparently concerted campaign has been focused on the book's title, combined with allegations that I am anti-Israel. This is not good for any of us who are committed to Israel's status as a peaceful nation living in harmony with its neighbors.

It is encouraging that President Bush has announced that peace in the Holy Land will be a high priority for his administration during the next two years. On her current trip to the region, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called for an early U.S.-Israeli-Palestinian meeting. She has recommended the 2002 offer of the 23 Arab nations as a foundation for peace: full recognition of Israel based on a return to its internationally recognized borders. This offer is compatible with official U.S. policy, previous agreements approved by Israeli governments in 1978 and 1993, and the "road map" for peace developed by the "quartet" (the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations).

The clear fact is that Israel will never find peace until it is willing to withdraw from its neighboring occupied territories and permit the Palestinians to exercise their basic human and political rights. With land swaps, this "green line" can be modified through negotiations to let a substantial number of Israeli settlers remain in their subsidized homes east of the internationally recognized border. The premise of exchanging Arab territory for peace has been acceptable for several decades to a majority of Israelis but not to a minority of the more conservative leaders, who are unfortunately supported by most of the vocal American Jewish community.

These same premises, of course, will have to be accepted by any government that represents the Palestinians. A March 2006 poll by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah found 73 percent approval among citizens in the occupied territories, and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has expressed support for talks between President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and pledged to end Hamas's rejectionist position if a negotiated agreement is approved by the Palestinian people.

More at;
WaPo

The writer was the 39th president and is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. His most recent book is "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid."

[Rock_Garden]

1. This is yet another area where the "no diplomacy" Bush administration has failed us.

That's just my opinion. While I don't agree with every single word that Carter says, I do have to agree that a complete understanding has not been achieved on either side of this question. If it's not Iraq (or Iran), it gets no attention from Bush. I watched Carter on CNN yesterday, and he still supports the use of the word "Apartheid" in the title of his new book. If you're going to write a book about making peace, how can it help to use the word Apartheid in the title? This issue needs the most delicate, sensitive, talented use of diplomacy possible, and Condoleeza Rice has failed utterly to provide it.

[oberliner]

2. Agreed

Hopefully we can get a Democrat elected president, who, like Bill Clinton, will actually take the time and effort to sit down and try to help the sides come up with some sort of workable solution to this conflict.

[Rock_Garden]

3. Agreed again.

Why does our world put so little energy into diplomacy? It's the one thing that will save us, but it's the most overlooked. The Republicans will never use it; they prefer the sword. If we hope to get many Democratic presidents elected, then let us become famous for diplomacy. Let us become indispensable everywhere for making peace.