I think it is far past the deadline for Gaza to have an election. I guess there has been no election because Hamas would be thrown out because the silent and fearful majority are afraid to be imprisoned, tortured and/or killed. Any comment on this issue, President Carter?
10
When they stop harboring terrorists and start getting serious about not wanting to kill civilizations tha don't agree with their point of view regarding their lifestyle, perhaps.
I remember living through the Jimmy Carter presidency. He may know about volunteering, Christianity, holding hands, whatever, he certainly didn't excel in international affairs.
I remember living through the Jimmy Carter presidency. He may know about volunteering, Christianity, holding hands, whatever, he certainly didn't excel in international affairs.
13
Jimmy Carter's record is stunning.
My general agreement, his presidency was among the worst...
Yet, his post presidency has probably been the best...
His ethics have been the best...
His issues with Hamilton Jordan and Bert Lance and his brother Billy were not pleasant...
His mother was among the most loved...
And VP Fritz Mondale was among the most liked of any VP in history.
Melanoma - is an illness the kills many. It has not killed President Carter...
And it did not kill me...
We met when Jimmy Carter was president...
And we were struck by his vision prior to election...
The bond market was a great concern in the Carter administration...
The team in DC simply did not understand the economy...
Habitat for Humanity is second to none for its effectiveness, world wide.
If there is a Heaven, James Earl Carter will go there...
Jimmy Carter is a good man... but I disagree with his view of things in Israel.
I choose to look at the Arab Israeli citizen - the most fortunate.
The wisest of the Arabs chooses Israel - and knows.
Jews are good people... antisemitism is unrelenting -
The only defense is the prospect of an overwhelming offense...
As a nuclear submarine commander, surely Jimmy Carter understands this.
Iran and the PLO and ISIS and the evil over there must understand it, too.
This argues for a one state solution for Jerusalem...
And I am not religions.
I prefer common sense... and cold reality.
There are good people and bad.
My general agreement, his presidency was among the worst...
Yet, his post presidency has probably been the best...
His ethics have been the best...
His issues with Hamilton Jordan and Bert Lance and his brother Billy were not pleasant...
His mother was among the most loved...
And VP Fritz Mondale was among the most liked of any VP in history.
Melanoma - is an illness the kills many. It has not killed President Carter...
And it did not kill me...
We met when Jimmy Carter was president...
And we were struck by his vision prior to election...
The bond market was a great concern in the Carter administration...
The team in DC simply did not understand the economy...
Habitat for Humanity is second to none for its effectiveness, world wide.
If there is a Heaven, James Earl Carter will go there...
Jimmy Carter is a good man... but I disagree with his view of things in Israel.
I choose to look at the Arab Israeli citizen - the most fortunate.
The wisest of the Arabs chooses Israel - and knows.
Jews are good people... antisemitism is unrelenting -
The only defense is the prospect of an overwhelming offense...
As a nuclear submarine commander, surely Jimmy Carter understands this.
Iran and the PLO and ISIS and the evil over there must understand it, too.
This argues for a one state solution for Jerusalem...
And I am not religions.
I prefer common sense... and cold reality.
There are good people and bad.
4
As an American (who also happens to be Jewish), I wholeheartedly agree with President Carter.
Numerous comments argue that "they don't deserve it because they act badly" or "they started first." Those contentions are irrelevant to whether or not Palestine should be recognized as a nation.
The Oxford Dictionary, similar to others, defines nation as "[a] large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory."
Seems pretty clear that Palestinians (and Palestine) fit the bill. They are a nation and their status as such should be recognized.
If Israel, the U.S., or other countries take issue with a Palestinian nation's actions, then the normal channels of international law, diplomacy, etc. can be used to address those issues.
But just because some think (right or wrong) that Palestine would be a "bad" nation does not mean that they are not a nation.
Numerous comments argue that "they don't deserve it because they act badly" or "they started first." Those contentions are irrelevant to whether or not Palestine should be recognized as a nation.
The Oxford Dictionary, similar to others, defines nation as "[a] large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular state or territory."
Seems pretty clear that Palestinians (and Palestine) fit the bill. They are a nation and their status as such should be recognized.
If Israel, the U.S., or other countries take issue with a Palestinian nation's actions, then the normal channels of international law, diplomacy, etc. can be used to address those issues.
But just because some think (right or wrong) that Palestine would be a "bad" nation does not mean that they are not a nation.
11
Who cares what the anti-semite has to say?
8
Yet another effort by Carter to distract historians from his failed presidency, opposition to civil rights and his support of those who committed the My Lai massacre.
7
President Carter you are indeed a man of virtue and good intention. I also have wanted a peaceful resolution to this conflict since the date of the Declaration of the State of Israel.
However the world at this moment is in a precarious place. We have a President about to enter the White House who holds little regard for truth or historical precedent. We have a Middle East in total meltdown. The far-right is in ascendency both here and abroad and we have Russia extending its borders and influence (with the seeming nod of approval from our next President).
Is this really the time for President Obama to change the historical precedent of the United States and to reward the intransigence of the Palestinian leaderships.
I don't think so.
However the world at this moment is in a precarious place. We have a President about to enter the White House who holds little regard for truth or historical precedent. We have a Middle East in total meltdown. The far-right is in ascendency both here and abroad and we have Russia extending its borders and influence (with the seeming nod of approval from our next President).
Is this really the time for President Obama to change the historical precedent of the United States and to reward the intransigence of the Palestinian leaderships.
I don't think so.
7
Cleverly Jimmy Carter distorts the premise of Resolution 242 which was to prevent aggression on either side to acquire more territory. Israel has Area C under its control based on Palestinian aggression. The agreement must be between the parties for a negotiated settlement and not imposed by outside ex-Presidents itching to burnish their legacy. Israel returned Gaza to Palestinian control and now has Hamas and Isis to contend with. The West Bank has also produced a number of terrorists. Abbas seems incapable of leadership. Israelis are hardly enjoying security. Demanding Israelis give up their homeland to Arab interlopers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia is not a demand made on any other indigenous people. The Carter Center should find another cause to meddle in.
10
"The Security Council should....reaffirm the illegality of all Israeli settlements beyond the 1967 borders, while leaving open the possibility that the parties could negotiate modifications."
If there is to be a UNSC resolution, it should be based on the Clinton Parameters and the Obama-Kerry plan, which represents longstanding US policy and provides parameters within with the parties could negotiate a settlement. A UNSC resolution worded as per Carter would mean the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and the Western Wall would be considered occupied territory and leave little or no incentive for the Palestinians to negotiate over anything, let alone borders. How will that contribute to a "just peace."
If there is to be a UNSC resolution, it should be based on the Clinton Parameters and the Obama-Kerry plan, which represents longstanding US policy and provides parameters within with the parties could negotiate a settlement. A UNSC resolution worded as per Carter would mean the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and the Western Wall would be considered occupied territory and leave little or no incentive for the Palestinians to negotiate over anything, let alone borders. How will that contribute to a "just peace."
4
There is a huge reason why Mr. Carter is widely considered at best the second worst president of the 20th Century - his shortsighted well-neigh ridiculous foreign policies. Here he resurrects his pity for a group that refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, has squandered every opportunity to discuss the two state solution with Israel, and actively teaches its school children to hate Israel and Jews. After its crushing defeat in 1967 Jordan abandoned the West Bank. Where was the outcry? Since 1948 Palestinians have preferred war to talk. Their failures on the battlefield are legendary. Today, 50 years later Mr. Carter asks that we ignore the actions of the Palestinian government and reward its intransigence and the terrorists its permits to operate. No nation in the Middle East is willing any longer to fight Israel on behalf of the Palestinians. Jordan has eradicated their presence, Egypt, Syria, and Iraq have bigger problems. Either the Palestinians recognize Israel and discuss a way forward or the right wing parties of Israel will take what they want by force if necessary. That is today's reality, not Mr. Carter's fantasy.
12
Should Palestine recognize Israel first?
13
President Carter is attempting to compare the Israeli Egyptian peace accord that he managed, to the Palestinian Israeli elusive to be peace accord.
To do so is comparing apples and lemons. The Israel Egypt accord was agreed to and was a wish of both sides. in comparison, no matter how hard Israel tried under 4 Prime ministers, Barak, Olmert, Sharon and Netanyahu, all 4 were rebuffed by an unwilling Palestinian tribe. Barak offered half of Jerusalem, Olmert offered sticking to the 67 borders, Sharon unilaterally handed over the Gaza and Netanyahu froze all construction for 10 months.
WE all know what happened when Israel handed Gaza, continuous rocket fire on Israeli towns, building tunnels to kill and kidnap Israelis. The US came to the aid of Israel by supporting the Iron dome project and thereby saving the lives of thousands of innocent Israeli civilians. Imagine if you will handing all the west bank to the lines of 67. Rocket fire will not require sophisticated weaponry, they can reach any point in Israel form north to south with home made rockets.
and now lets see what the Palestinians would lose by this.
Israel will not allow west bankers to be treated in Israeli hospitals, it will not provide 250,000 jobs to Palestinians living in the west bank and working in Israel.
No Mr. Carter, the US should only recognize the Palestinians after they stop burning Israeli and American flags. and only after they honestly and genuinely show that peace is uppermost on their mind
To do so is comparing apples and lemons. The Israel Egypt accord was agreed to and was a wish of both sides. in comparison, no matter how hard Israel tried under 4 Prime ministers, Barak, Olmert, Sharon and Netanyahu, all 4 were rebuffed by an unwilling Palestinian tribe. Barak offered half of Jerusalem, Olmert offered sticking to the 67 borders, Sharon unilaterally handed over the Gaza and Netanyahu froze all construction for 10 months.
WE all know what happened when Israel handed Gaza, continuous rocket fire on Israeli towns, building tunnels to kill and kidnap Israelis. The US came to the aid of Israel by supporting the Iron dome project and thereby saving the lives of thousands of innocent Israeli civilians. Imagine if you will handing all the west bank to the lines of 67. Rocket fire will not require sophisticated weaponry, they can reach any point in Israel form north to south with home made rockets.
and now lets see what the Palestinians would lose by this.
Israel will not allow west bankers to be treated in Israeli hospitals, it will not provide 250,000 jobs to Palestinians living in the west bank and working in Israel.
No Mr. Carter, the US should only recognize the Palestinians after they stop burning Israeli and American flags. and only after they honestly and genuinely show that peace is uppermost on their mind
9
The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is well-known, is acceptable to the West and the to rest of the world, is consistent with official US foreign policy, is consistent with UN Resolutions and international law, is consistent with the principles laid out by the Quartet, and is consistent with the proposal put forward by the Arab League several years ago.
It is what the world demands and what Israel refuses to accept:
2 viable states; 1967 boundaries with mutually agreed land swaps, right of return negotiated using both (limited) property and (fair) compensation.
It is what the world demands and what Israel refuses to accept:
2 viable states; 1967 boundaries with mutually agreed land swaps, right of return negotiated using both (limited) property and (fair) compensation.
6
The 17 year old I was in 1968 is very sad that almost fifty years later there is no agreement and Palestinians have no nation. I found it difficult finding anyone who would talk with me about Israel and Palestine. It had been 21 years since the U.N. adopted as resolution the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was a proposal by the United Nations, which recommended a partition of Mandatory Palestine at the end of the British Mandate. It will soon be the 70th anniversary of its passage. I was not a naive 17 year old. My father had been in the U.S. armed forces for almost 20 years by the and my life was constantly disrupted and my hopes were dashed but I was not cynical. I am very proud that former President Jimmy Carter has never abandoned his effort and he still has hope for the next two months. This problem is affected by thousands of years of history. If it were any other part of the world it would have been settled. Am I alone in looking at the present day as a proxy war with the U.S. on both sides?
2
How amusing for a clique of world superpowers in the UN, fattened on territory gained through conquest, to then declare that henceforth no territory may be gained through conflict.
4
President Carter well understands the incendiary nature of this situation in terms of global peace, but I fear a two state solution may no longer be viable. Having recently returned from my second stint in Palestine where I saw more settlement expansion and Palestinian displacement than ever, with no substantive US condemnation, I believe the possibility of a Palestinian state is highly unlikely. The establishment of two states is clearly not the Israeli objective. What I have borne witness to in Palestine instead is a system of ethnic cleansing and apartheid, and as someone born and raised in South Africa, I believe I am qualified to speak to that. I know President Carter would agree with me.
2
This from a man who thought the Shah was worse than the Ayotollah. And we are still paying the price for his folly almost 40 years ago.
7
President Carter makes an excellent argument. I hate to play tit for tat, but if "they" can invite Benjamin Netanyahu to address congress, "we" can recognize Palestine and so hasten a two state solution towards peace.
2
The cessation of hostilities will not end as long as Israel occupies territory outside the 1967 parameters. So while I applaud President Carter's sentiments, returning land to Palestine is a necessary first step.
The US can "recognize" Palestine all day long. This will not change a thing. Pullback the entitlements the US taxpayers send to Israel every year, and things will change very, very quickly.
The US can "recognize" Palestine all day long. This will not change a thing. Pullback the entitlements the US taxpayers send to Israel every year, and things will change very, very quickly.
5
It's difficult to make peace with a nation still at war with itself. It's difficult to make peace with a nation when nation which taunts the other with infringements, especially when the taunting nation's ultra-right wing is mostly immigrants claiming some 4000 year old right of ownership. It's difficult to make peace when you inject God into the equation.
It is refreshing to have a prominent politician stand up for human rights and international law. The rest is a pretty sad collection of politicians afraid to do the right thing.
4
I'm really surprised with the timing of the proposal of Jimmy Carter. It's timing does not make sense at all and ultimately does not have the approval of the Israeli end Palestinian political leadership. He knows very well, that from now on until January 20th Obama's voice will not be heard and acknowledged.
Jimmy Carter is one most respected statesman in world's modern history, a respected and ethical American politician and a beloved man. So I wonder why is he calling the shots from reactionaries, extremists, republicans, orthodox Jews, radical Palestinians and all kind of people not interested in real peace?
Jimmy Carter is one most respected statesman in world's modern history, a respected and ethical American politician and a beloved man. So I wonder why is he calling the shots from reactionaries, extremists, republicans, orthodox Jews, radical Palestinians and all kind of people not interested in real peace?
You are a good person President Carter, but like most good people, you have a fundamental flaw. The flaw is that you believe that if you are “good enough,” “sincere enough,” and “logical enough,” that other people will come around and see the rightness in your position. I am sorry Mr. President but that is not how people operate – and history tends to support my more cynical view. The two-state solution is dead. We can argue whether Israel made that decision after the 1967 War, the 1973 War, the Intifada, various wars in Lebanon, Gaza, or anywhere else, but it is abundantly clear that Mr. Netanyahu, his cabinet, and his supporters across Israel are now operating on a “single state with second class citizens” model. If South Africa is too extreme an analogy for Israel, how about using China and its treatment of minorities? If you don’t like China, then how about analogizing Modi’s India and its treatment of Muslims and other non Hindus? Israel has become and will remain a nation that does not concern itself with minority rights. The point is that the only people who believe in a two-state solution do not have the power to impose it, and those people who have such power have given up on the concept a long time ago.
3
No need to stand on ceremony: Trump won't. This is an intriguing idea.
1
The last time Palestinians were given the opportunity to vote, encouraged to do so by then President George W. Bush, they voted for a Hamas-led government committed to the destruction of the State of Israel. Would the vote be any different now? Yes. Palestinians by overwhelming numbers favor a one-state solution: a Palestinian state ruling what is now Israel as well as Gaza and the West Bank, another Iranian quasi-theocracy in the Middle East. Palestinians don't want peace. They don't want to negotiate. They want it all, and they want it now. Israel must do what is necessary to establish its right to exist as a Jewish state in a land it governed all the way back to Biblical times.
6
President Carter is proposing the Gaza Model be applied to the West Bank. We see how well that worked out the last time. How about first requiring the Palestinians to end the conflict before we reward them with title to the west bank? Carter calls on the White House to recognize a Palestinian state, and on the UN Security Council to set parameters for resolving the conflict. Maybe I’m missing something, but if you give the Palestinians title to the west bank, what do you need parameters for?
7
Twice President Carter says that Begin and Sadat signed the accords. Anyone else? How does he avoid mentioning that the Palestinians did not then and have never since agreed to any accord? Immediately after the Camp David talks, the Palestinians launched an infitada bombing buses, restaurants, etc.
It's also good to know of "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war". Bolivia can finally get it's sea coast back.
It's also good to know of "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war". Bolivia can finally get it's sea coast back.
8
Recently, D J Trump told the Wall-Street Journal that he is a deal-maker and that the ultimate deal is to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He emphasized that this will be “for humanity's sake.”
I beg to disagree.
It should be for Israel and Palestine’s sake and especially America and Europe’s sake because a settlement would deflate ISIS and reduce it to a bunch of murderous thugs that they are.
Of course, this would not be an easy task. Over the last sixty-eight years, eleven Presidents have tried, some vigorously, some reluctantly, to solve this conflict., and failed.
This would put Mr. Trump, at a very commendable and enviable position as he starts his four-year presidential term.
His influence with the American and Israeli Jewish communities is well known. You don’t need Arab influence or support, since only Israel has to be convinced to give up land for peace.
Israel’s occupation of the Palestinians cannot be sustained forever and probably a majority of American and Western Jews favor a settlement which will create two states at peace and may become a beacon for the surrounding Arab peoples.
Since 1990, America has been at war, directly or indirectly, with the Arabs and Islam and a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine would alter the destructive path that previous administrations have taken.
I beg to disagree.
It should be for Israel and Palestine’s sake and especially America and Europe’s sake because a settlement would deflate ISIS and reduce it to a bunch of murderous thugs that they are.
Of course, this would not be an easy task. Over the last sixty-eight years, eleven Presidents have tried, some vigorously, some reluctantly, to solve this conflict., and failed.
This would put Mr. Trump, at a very commendable and enviable position as he starts his four-year presidential term.
His influence with the American and Israeli Jewish communities is well known. You don’t need Arab influence or support, since only Israel has to be convinced to give up land for peace.
Israel’s occupation of the Palestinians cannot be sustained forever and probably a majority of American and Western Jews favor a settlement which will create two states at peace and may become a beacon for the surrounding Arab peoples.
Since 1990, America has been at war, directly or indirectly, with the Arabs and Islam and a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine would alter the destructive path that previous administrations have taken.
Jimmy Carter did the wrong at the first, removing Egypt from the conflict and isolating Palestinians without any military power, but at the mercy of Israel, and Israel did exactly what their Zionist leaders were dreaming, grabbed not only land but their humanity and human values too. Now looks like it is too late to save any thing for the occupied land and their inhabitants. Under Trump. no one can imagine what will happen to these unfortunate 5 million human beings??
I respectfully submit that President Carter is woefully out of his league and out of date regarding his opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Carter, a lot has happened since you were in office in 1978, including the spurning of peace by the Palestinian leadership at every turn, on six occasions, including the Camp David accord, instead deciding upon war instead of peace and inciting the intifada. As once was famously said, and I paraphrase, the Palestinian leadership has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
I challenge President Carter and the United Nations to press the Palestinians to first recognize, or recognize in parallel, the right of existence of the Jewish state of Israel, which they have never been willing to do. Let's read between the lines, a Palestinian leadership who won't recognize Israel's right to exist is a leadership consumed with but one goal, the annihilation of the state of Israel.
I challenge President Carter and the United Nations to press the Palestinians to first recognize, or recognize in parallel, the right of existence of the Jewish state of Israel, which they have never been willing to do. Let's read between the lines, a Palestinian leadership who won't recognize Israel's right to exist is a leadership consumed with but one goal, the annihilation of the state of Israel.
8
Yes President Carter. Thank you.
2
Jimmy Carter's failed presidency and endless foreign policy disasters speak for themselves. He champions the Palestinian cause while always denegrating and mocking Israel's suffering at the hand of savage Palestinian Islamist terror. This last push by Carter & the NYT to acclimate liberaldom and the West to a possible surprise Obama recognition of "Palestine" is just another thinly veiled attempt to destroy the only Jewish state on the planet. A country surrounded by over 40 Shariah ruled Muslim countries comprised of 450 million Arabs, 80 million Iranian & 80 millions Turks all wanting the same end for the tiny Jewsih state the size of New Jersey.
7
Upon inauguration, would President Trump be able to immediately rescind Obama's diplomatic recognition of Palestine?
3
The Arabs want Israel to give in to all their demands, even though their demands keep increasing, before they will "negotiate". Obviously, unilateral concession by one party is not negotiation, and such preconditions are not offered in good faith. When Israel agreed to stop building in the West Bank in order to get the "peace process" restarted (as if there ever was a peace process), the Arabs then demanded Israel stop building in Jerusalem, even in the areas of Jerusalem that were Jewish before the so-called "occupation". If Israel were foolish enough to agree to this demand, the Arabs would demand something else.
Creating another "Palestinian" state out of Jewish territory will not bring peace. Nor would it be feasible, since Hamas and the PA each will demand their own states, and thus there must be (at minimum) a three-state solution. But, if there were, each little terrorist entity would demand their own state, ad infinitum.
The Jewish/Israeli goal has always been peaceful co-existence, but not suicide.
The ONLY viable, long-term, permanent solution to the "Palestinian" problem is for the "Palestinians" to move to Jordan, where they already have a "Palestinian" state, or to return to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, etc. from whence they immigrated to Israel to take advantage of the economic opportunities created by the "Zionists". Unfortunately, the Jordanians, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Turks don't want them either.
Creating another "Palestinian" state out of Jewish territory will not bring peace. Nor would it be feasible, since Hamas and the PA each will demand their own states, and thus there must be (at minimum) a three-state solution. But, if there were, each little terrorist entity would demand their own state, ad infinitum.
The Jewish/Israeli goal has always been peaceful co-existence, but not suicide.
The ONLY viable, long-term, permanent solution to the "Palestinian" problem is for the "Palestinians" to move to Jordan, where they already have a "Palestinian" state, or to return to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, etc. from whence they immigrated to Israel to take advantage of the economic opportunities created by the "Zionists". Unfortunately, the Jordanians, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Turks don't want them either.
7
Over twenty five years ago, as a result of the grossly misnamed Oslo "Peace" Process, Israel turned over administrative control of 90% of the West Bank and Gaza to Arafat and the "Palestinian Authority", and provided money and materials for the PA to build the infrastructure necessary for eventual statehood. In return, the Arabs were to curtail the terrorism. Needless to say, the corrupt PA used the funds for their personal gain, and for fomenting terrorism. Following Israel's unilateral concessions, Arab terrorism increased from a few isolated incidents each year to over 10,000 major incidents each year, with hundreds of minor incidents every day. Jewish holy sites have been destroyed by the Arabs, and official Arab television and radio spread vile anti-Semitic propaganda, in direct violation of the "peace accords". So much for the Arab desire for peace.
In the subsequent years, Israel has made additional unilateral concessions, such as turning over Hebron to the PA (which resulted in the immediate destruction of the Jewish holy sites in Hebron), withdrawing from Gaza and ethnically-cleaning the Jewish population from the homes, farms, and factories they had built with their own labor, and (more recently) the cessation of construction by Jews in Jewish neighborhoods in Jewish territory -- all in the interests of peace. The Arab response has been exponentially more terrorism, and more demands.
In the subsequent years, Israel has made additional unilateral concessions, such as turning over Hebron to the PA (which resulted in the immediate destruction of the Jewish holy sites in Hebron), withdrawing from Gaza and ethnically-cleaning the Jewish population from the homes, farms, and factories they had built with their own labor, and (more recently) the cessation of construction by Jews in Jewish neighborhoods in Jewish territory -- all in the interests of peace. The Arab response has been exponentially more terrorism, and more demands.
52
Simple question:
No PA leader is willing to utter the phrase “two states for two peoples”. Why?
No PA leader is willing to utter the phrase “two states for two peoples”. Why?
38
Pres. Carter, with all due respect, go back and read your bible. The never-ending hatred between these people isn't going to end with a Palestinian State, although I agree they should have one. No one wants to give Jerusalem to the other. So the fighting will go on till the end of time as we know it.
13
Carter forgets a number of things. He forgets that several Israel prime ministers agreed to 95% of *all* of PA demands. The PA then upped their demands.
Carter forgets that Hamas has fired ~10,000 missiles into Israel from Gaza & calls for Israel & the Jews to be eliminated. He forgets that Hizboalla has 150,000 missiles & openly states that they will destroy Israel & the Jews. He forgets that UNSC Reolution 242 calls for "secure and recognized boundaries"; it does NOT call for a return to the pre-'67 lines. He forgets that Israel halted all building in the W.Bank for 10 months during which time the PA was to negotiate with Israel. They refused to sit & at the end of the 10 months demanded ANOTHER building halt. Carter ignores that terrorists released in exchange for Israeli soldiers & bodies returned to terrorism and murdered more Israelis. He ignores the many overt & covert calls from the PA leadership, residents, Iran & others to destroy Israel "Palestine: From the River to the Sea". He forgets that UN peace keeping forces in Syria & Lebanon leterally run from Syrian and Lebonese terrorist & have permitted them to place rockets & soldiers on Israel's borders & have themselves been rescued by Israeli troops more than once - yet he calls for more of the same toy soldiers to "protect" Israel !
He forgets that except the Mideast is awash in blood, bodies & terror (400,000 dead in Syria alone). Except in Israel.
Carter forgets that Hamas has fired ~10,000 missiles into Israel from Gaza & calls for Israel & the Jews to be eliminated. He forgets that Hizboalla has 150,000 missiles & openly states that they will destroy Israel & the Jews. He forgets that UNSC Reolution 242 calls for "secure and recognized boundaries"; it does NOT call for a return to the pre-'67 lines. He forgets that Israel halted all building in the W.Bank for 10 months during which time the PA was to negotiate with Israel. They refused to sit & at the end of the 10 months demanded ANOTHER building halt. Carter ignores that terrorists released in exchange for Israeli soldiers & bodies returned to terrorism and murdered more Israelis. He ignores the many overt & covert calls from the PA leadership, residents, Iran & others to destroy Israel "Palestine: From the River to the Sea". He forgets that UN peace keeping forces in Syria & Lebanon leterally run from Syrian and Lebonese terrorist & have permitted them to place rockets & soldiers on Israel's borders & have themselves been rescued by Israeli troops more than once - yet he calls for more of the same toy soldiers to "protect" Israel !
He forgets that except the Mideast is awash in blood, bodies & terror (400,000 dead in Syria alone). Except in Israel.
60
Strange, this post, since it has been the Arabs attacking the Jews since 1920 ( and before that, and since)!
38
Creating another "Palestinian" state out of Jewish territory will not bring peace. Nor would it be feasible, since Hamas and the PA each will demand their own states, and thus there must be (at minimum) a three-state solution. But, if there were, each little terrorist entity would demand their own state, ad infinitum.
The oft-stated Arab goal has always been the annihilation of the Jews (as well as Christians, and Muslims of different sects) from the Middle East. Giving them more land will not change this.
The Jewish/Israeli goal has always been peaceful co-existence, but not suicide.
The ONLY viable, long-term, permanent solution to the "Palestinian" problem is for the "Palestinians" to move to Jordan, where they already have a "Palestinian" state, or to return to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, etc. from whence they immigrated to Israel to take advantage of the economic opportunities created by the "Zionists". Unfortunately, the Jordanians, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Turks don't want them either
The oft-stated Arab goal has always been the annihilation of the Jews (as well as Christians, and Muslims of different sects) from the Middle East. Giving them more land will not change this.
The Jewish/Israeli goal has always been peaceful co-existence, but not suicide.
The ONLY viable, long-term, permanent solution to the "Palestinian" problem is for the "Palestinians" to move to Jordan, where they already have a "Palestinian" state, or to return to Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, etc. from whence they immigrated to Israel to take advantage of the economic opportunities created by the "Zionists". Unfortunately, the Jordanians, Egyptians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Turks don't want them either
43
Jimmy Carter, the doddering old kook that he is missing some things that are extremely important. When will the Palestininans recognize Israel??? He forgets that Isarel offered Arafat a sovereign Palestinian state in 2000 under Bill Clinton's guidance. Abbas rejected what would almost be considered an Israeli "surrender" in 2008 when Ehud Olmert offered Abbas 98% of the West Bank with additional land swaps, 100% of Gaza (which had already been unilaterally turned over... and you know what that got the Israelis in return), and control of East Jerusalem for a capitol.
What Jimmy Carter proposed would be a disaster for the Israelis. The proposed borders are indefensible and what Carter proposes would not lead to peace, but to all-out war. There is a reason why Jimmy Carter was a one term president. He took a bad situation in America and made it worse, not better- and seems to have a plan to do the same thing in the middle-east.
What Jimmy Carter proposed would be a disaster for the Israelis. The proposed borders are indefensible and what Carter proposes would not lead to peace, but to all-out war. There is a reason why Jimmy Carter was a one term president. He took a bad situation in America and made it worse, not better- and seems to have a plan to do the same thing in the middle-east.
37
Mr. Obama, who has the second worst foreign policy history getting advice from Mr. Carter, the president with the worst foreign policy history.
Mr. Obama, are you striving for first place?
Mr. Obama, are you striving for first place?
32
How would WE handle it? Let's say the Mexicans decided to reclaim California, Texas, New Mexico, etc. and started stabbing, shooting and bombing American citizens, What would we do in response to that? How popular would the average Mexican be after just one week of such activity? Shoe's on a different foot now, aint it...
31
Today's post-Koran culture of death or Who cares what they say or think? Just because Carter or someone says something doesn't make it real. The earth isn't flat after all is it!
Islam was born in the seventh century C.E. and the Jewish Temple Mount existed hundreds of years before that. Hundreds of years prior to Islam there was a connection between Jews and Jerusalem."
Dr. Sari Nusseibeh, one of the heads of the Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, recognized the fact that King Solomon's Temple Mount originally housed the Temple before the two occupying mosques were built there. He nearly paid with his life for an article he wrote to this effect.
Muslims see themselves as descendants of the Canaanites? This is, of course, impossible as the Canaanites were pagan idol worshipers who disappeared centuries before Islam arose and the Arab hordes swept out of the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century CE to conquer by the sword the Holy Land of Israel, but not only the Holy Land of Israel..
In addition to Israel, Islam regard Andalusia, Sicily and the Balkans as belonging to Islam and that Islam will rule there again.
Islam was born in the seventh century C.E. and the Jewish Temple Mount existed hundreds of years before that. Hundreds of years prior to Islam there was a connection between Jews and Jerusalem."
Dr. Sari Nusseibeh, one of the heads of the Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, recognized the fact that King Solomon's Temple Mount originally housed the Temple before the two occupying mosques were built there. He nearly paid with his life for an article he wrote to this effect.
Muslims see themselves as descendants of the Canaanites? This is, of course, impossible as the Canaanites were pagan idol worshipers who disappeared centuries before Islam arose and the Arab hordes swept out of the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century CE to conquer by the sword the Holy Land of Israel, but not only the Holy Land of Israel..
In addition to Israel, Islam regard Andalusia, Sicily and the Balkans as belonging to Islam and that Islam will rule there again.
23
If a two state solution is recognized by other than Israelis and Palestinians it will set off a war between settlers, their supporters and Palestinians. If President Carter really wanted to do a service for peace he would tell off Hamas and Fatah. Enough cute playing while firing missiles at Israel and attempting to murder Israelis. Abbas won't do it because he is afraid Hamas will kill him and Hamas won't do it because it lives by being a rejectionist entity.
22
Find Israel on a map. It's tiny, so you'll have to zoom way in. Jews only have 10% of the land per person that average nations have, even including Gaza, Golan Heights, Judea and Samaria
.
Surrounding Jerusalem, the eternal Jewish capital city which their King David bought 3200 years ago for them, in which Jews have practically always been the majority, is their indigenous homeland.
Now zoom out to see all of Palestine, the land international law promised the Jews as a homeland in 1920. Note that 78% of it is today occupied by an Arab state called Jordan.
Now zoom out to see all 21 Arab countries surrounding Israel, with eleven times more land per person than Israel.
Now zoom out to see all 51 Muslim countries. You'll have to zoom out to global scale because Muslims have invaded and now cover a full 1/3 of the Earth's land surface area.
So which side has been victimized for millennia?
.
Surrounding Jerusalem, the eternal Jewish capital city which their King David bought 3200 years ago for them, in which Jews have practically always been the majority, is their indigenous homeland.
Now zoom out to see all of Palestine, the land international law promised the Jews as a homeland in 1920. Note that 78% of it is today occupied by an Arab state called Jordan.
Now zoom out to see all 21 Arab countries surrounding Israel, with eleven times more land per person than Israel.
Now zoom out to see all 51 Muslim countries. You'll have to zoom out to global scale because Muslims have invaded and now cover a full 1/3 of the Earth's land surface area.
So which side has been victimized for millennia?
42
Fortunately, in a mere 52 days, people like President Carter who believe that Jewish house-building is a war crime and that Washington knows better than Jerusalem how to manage Israel's affairs, will be far, far, far away from the levers of power. Thank God.
But perhaps there is some good in his proposal. Should it come to pass (which I seriously doubt), it could be the impetus for President Trump to dismantle and evict that nest of corrupt bigots that reside on the east side of NYC. That would be a fitting legacy for Mr. Carter--US out of UN, UN out of US!
But perhaps there is some good in his proposal. Should it come to pass (which I seriously doubt), it could be the impetus for President Trump to dismantle and evict that nest of corrupt bigots that reside on the east side of NYC. That would be a fitting legacy for Mr. Carter--US out of UN, UN out of US!
18
As a liberal American Jew and supporter of JStreet I am committed to the notion of a 2 state solution. I am, however, concerned by my readings into pre-Israel history and the history of the development of the state of Israel. The Arabist anti-Zionist rhetoric and activities of the 1920s-30s was no less hostile and violent than it is today. Basically, the position was "We will never accept a Jewish state on our land" (even if that land was ruled by the Turks). All of this history, as well as the early history of Israel predates 1967, so I am less optimistic that the non-Jewish population of the Middle East will welcome in peace a Jewish sovereignty no matter what its borders. Moreover, I am not encouraged by the treatment of Jewish communities by the rest of Israel's neighbors. The Holocaust was not so long ago; considering the indifferent response of the Allies I am convinced that a Jewish safe-haven is more than legitimate, it is essential.
I welcome any response which, without simply dismissing them, might held alleviate my concerns.
I welcome any response which, without simply dismissing them, might held alleviate my concerns.
66
Your concerns are well founded. I would suggest re-evaluating your support of J-Street, which dismisses such concerns because it does not conform to their ideology.
6
America doesn't have to do any such thing, including recognizing any other country. But it does. Why? Has Palestine made its case in a coherent way; in a structured, sophisticated format of diplomacy; by commercial, civil and military relationships; or even in a professional use of western media to communicate its vision and goals? Is Israel their "benchmark?" Otherwise, Mr. Carter advances a sentiment that is obviously framed within broader instincts of peace, but as policy, doesn't stand a chance. The US and Israel are on a formalized war footing: the GWOT. The entire middle East is subject to an utterly explicit, clearly signaled plan of Middle East "reconstruction." Mr. Carter surely is privy to details. The only scenario that would invite such overtures as the former US president describes, is one where Netanyahu and the Likud party are replaced by a center-left government that also seeks such an arrangement, among other accommodations and aspirations. The current Israel government has made it clear that they do not seek or approve of such recognition despite occasional tactical language to the contrary; indeed, their Minister of Education, Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settlement Jewish Home Party, reported here by the NY Times, expressed his party's position that the new US president-elect signals that "the era of the Palestinian state is over." http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/15/world/middleeast/israel-netanyahu-trum...
6
Carter and Obama want to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop settlements, and to negotiate peace.
And exactly WHO will guarantee this peace deal from the Palestinian side?
Who will guarantee the state of Israel negotiated peace in return for land to implement a two state solution?
Hamas? The admittedly terrorist government, who openly states that any peace deal is just a means of pushing all Jews into the Mediterranean sea? Implement a peace deal negotiated by their nemesis, Fatah?
And exactly WHO will guarantee this peace deal from the Palestinian side?
Who will guarantee the state of Israel negotiated peace in return for land to implement a two state solution?
Hamas? The admittedly terrorist government, who openly states that any peace deal is just a means of pushing all Jews into the Mediterranean sea? Implement a peace deal negotiated by their nemesis, Fatah?
29
The UN has done such a nice job:
massacres in the Balkans; rape in Africa; cholera in Haiti.
With friends like them (and the hostile neighboring states), who needs enemies?
A two state solution may well be the best path, but Jews have been down this "trusting" road before. Think about loyal citizens of Germany (including veterans, women and children) who were murdered for no reason beyond Jew-hatred.
Israel is a democracy and it must decide its own destiny; and it must always be able to destroy any enemy that threatens the peace.
massacres in the Balkans; rape in Africa; cholera in Haiti.
With friends like them (and the hostile neighboring states), who needs enemies?
A two state solution may well be the best path, but Jews have been down this "trusting" road before. Think about loyal citizens of Germany (including veterans, women and children) who were murdered for no reason beyond Jew-hatred.
Israel is a democracy and it must decide its own destiny; and it must always be able to destroy any enemy that threatens the peace.
26
the Israelis will accept nothing less than total occupation of its historical "homeland". read the record of leaders such as Ben Gurion, Golda Meir, david yellin, et al. a one state of Israel has been their plan since the 1920's.
10
And yet they have repeatedly agreed to partition that land, as documented by the Peel Commission (1937 partition plan), the UN (1947 partition plan), the 1949 Armistice agreement (the Arab League rejected the offer to have the armistice line become the border of the Israeli state, repeated in 1965 by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol), and the Arab rejection of negotiations following the 1967 war (the so-called Khartoum Resolution - no peace, no negotiations, no recognition).
While Mahmoud Abbas, self-declared president for life of the Palestinian Authority, officially recognizes Israel's right to exist in English, he makes very different statements in Arabic, as do his fellow Fatah party members. Even the children's schoolbooks depict the entire region as "Palestine".
Hamas is more open in their hatred.
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
The Arab world will accept nothing except the obliteration of Israel. It is even depicted as a religious obligation.
While Mahmoud Abbas, self-declared president for life of the Palestinian Authority, officially recognizes Israel's right to exist in English, he makes very different statements in Arabic, as do his fellow Fatah party members. Even the children's schoolbooks depict the entire region as "Palestine".
Hamas is more open in their hatred.
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
The Arab world will accept nothing except the obliteration of Israel. It is even depicted as a religious obligation.
5
Israel's treatment of Palestinians is just how Trump's America aims to proceed against its non-whites, right down to the wall. Can't imagine US recognition of Palestine it goes against the new national will.
7
President Carter is a good man. However he is a poor judge of the Israeli
leadership. That leadership pressured George W. Bush into an unjust war
against the secular leader of Iraq. This caused the destruction of over 100,000 Iraqi lives and the destruction of the infrastructure of the county. It also encouraged the Sunni jihadists to wage war against modernity around the globe. What possible good would this do for Israel? Mr. Carter knows well the Hebrew Scriptures which announce the Kingdom of David. This kingdom includes Syria and Iraq. The Kingdom of David, in reality, never included Syria or Iraq. And 43 years after the Kingdom was founded, it broke up during the ruinous reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. What the ancient Israelis failed to achieve the Likud government of Israel plans still to get via American
force. The Bush war has destroyed much of Syria and Iraq. Netanyahu hopes
that Trump will complete the conquest. Much as Trump loves Israel, he loves
America more. He has pledged not to send troops back into the cauldron
created by Bush. Now Israel must face a Shia crescent which goes from the
Mediterranean to the Pakistani border. And they will never recognize a Palestinian state.
leadership. That leadership pressured George W. Bush into an unjust war
against the secular leader of Iraq. This caused the destruction of over 100,000 Iraqi lives and the destruction of the infrastructure of the county. It also encouraged the Sunni jihadists to wage war against modernity around the globe. What possible good would this do for Israel? Mr. Carter knows well the Hebrew Scriptures which announce the Kingdom of David. This kingdom includes Syria and Iraq. The Kingdom of David, in reality, never included Syria or Iraq. And 43 years after the Kingdom was founded, it broke up during the ruinous reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. What the ancient Israelis failed to achieve the Likud government of Israel plans still to get via American
force. The Bush war has destroyed much of Syria and Iraq. Netanyahu hopes
that Trump will complete the conquest. Much as Trump loves Israel, he loves
America more. He has pledged not to send troops back into the cauldron
created by Bush. Now Israel must face a Shia crescent which goes from the
Mediterranean to the Pakistani border. And they will never recognize a Palestinian state.
7
Israel is following an unwise path, as President Carter has articulated repeatedly. In the long run, Israel will be a state that fails to recognize most of its people, an Oligarchy of the blind and proud, surrounded by hostile adjacent states of growing menace to its future populated by the very people ignored within Israel. The time to change direction is clearly at hand, as President Carter states here, but a headstrong Israel will continue moving toward its conflagration. Emphasis upon the situation by Obama will generate attention, and maybe that will lead to progress from without where progress within is gasping for air.
16
Carter is personal friends with all of Hamas's top leaders, and has urged the U.S. to recognize Hamas as a legitimate political entity even as the Hamas charter continues to call for Israel to be violently eliminated, through jihad, and replaced with an Islamic theocracy. Significantly, Carter has never publicly criticized Hamas for its denial of basic civil and human rights for its own people. When a jihadist murdered the American Taylor Force in Israel, Carter's *personal* friends in Hamas -- the ones he vouches for -- praised Taylor's jihadist killer and called for more, similar attacks. Carter was silent about that.
Israel thought it was exchanging land for peace when it disengaged from Gaza -- instead it got Arabs voting Hamas into power.
Why is Carter calling for U.S. recognition of Hamas and not of ISIS? ISIS openly says it wants a caliphate; Hamas openly says it wants to violently destroy Israel and replace it with an Islamic theocracy.
Not a single mention of that fact in Carter's op-ed. He appears to want us to believe that if the U.S. recognized Palestine/Hamas, Hamas would magically evaporate.
Israel thought it was exchanging land for peace when it disengaged from Gaza -- instead it got Arabs voting Hamas into power.
Why is Carter calling for U.S. recognition of Hamas and not of ISIS? ISIS openly says it wants a caliphate; Hamas openly says it wants to violently destroy Israel and replace it with an Islamic theocracy.
Not a single mention of that fact in Carter's op-ed. He appears to want us to believe that if the U.S. recognized Palestine/Hamas, Hamas would magically evaporate.
33
As long as the Israelis keep electing the same hardliner prime minister who was already kicked out of office many years ago yet still keep building settlements in the West Bank there will be no change. Either that or the population of Arabs in Israel will one day be more than Jews then, being a democracy, they will have political leverage. So best to settle now than allow that day to come.
4
Once again, my hat is off to Jimmy Carter. I have to confess to not having been in the region myself, but I trust the voices I have heard whom I judge to have integrity, and Jimmy Carter is one of them. The two state solution may well be a chimera, as one commentator has suggested below, but this is the time to do as much as can be done for the moment to maintain the Camp David Accords and to start talk about withdrawing illegal settlements. Without that, there is no chance of peace in the Middle East or for the U.S. to stop worrying about terrorist threats. It may be too little to late, in any case, but it is worth a try. Do we not all want to live in peace, when it comes down to it?
9
Which competent court has ever ruled the settlements to be "illegal"?
Where was "peace" in the Middle East BEFORE there were ever any settlements?
Where was "peace" in the Middle East BEFORE there were ever any settlements?
6
Intelligent advice from President Carter to President Obama: grant American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, as 137 countries have already done, and help it achieve full United Nations membership.
Israel is a rogue state and has lied, bullied, slaughtered and deceived the world in order to avoid what is necessary for peace: internationally recognized and enforced borders for Palestine.
Israel is a rogue state and has lied, bullied, slaughtered and deceived the world in order to avoid what is necessary for peace: internationally recognized and enforced borders for Palestine.
11
How novel for Jimmy Carter to use the anniversary of the UN Partition vote to be heard from. He's too smart to make errors of the magnitude that he has in this piece, so I must write it off to his willfully misleading the reader. If on November 29, 1947 the Arabs (the only ones referred to as Palestinians then were Jews) had accepted the Partition vote, they'd have a state today, side by side with Israel.
How disingenuous for Jimmy Carter to deny this and then go on to say that "peace is in danger of abrogation" as if only Israel is the cause for the lack of peace. If the Arabs laid down their weapons and stopped their rhetoric and incitement, they'd have peace tomorrow.
Continuing to rest his hat on a stack of half truths, non-truths, and innuendo, Carter chides Israel for the fact that Palestinian Arabs are not Israeli citizens. Of course they aren't. They want their own state. Why should they be. He adds to this foundation the outright lie that "most live under Israeli military rule." That's just absurd. Most live under Palestinian Authority rule.
On a recent visit to Israel Carter visited my neighborhood near Jerusalem and refereed to this as areas Israel would not have to cede in a final status solution. While its not up to Carter what Israel should or shouldn't cede, he contradicts himself by referring to the "illegality of all Israeli settlements."
At Emory, when Carter set up his presidency in exile, we were used to this. Sadly nothing's changed.
How disingenuous for Jimmy Carter to deny this and then go on to say that "peace is in danger of abrogation" as if only Israel is the cause for the lack of peace. If the Arabs laid down their weapons and stopped their rhetoric and incitement, they'd have peace tomorrow.
Continuing to rest his hat on a stack of half truths, non-truths, and innuendo, Carter chides Israel for the fact that Palestinian Arabs are not Israeli citizens. Of course they aren't. They want their own state. Why should they be. He adds to this foundation the outright lie that "most live under Israeli military rule." That's just absurd. Most live under Palestinian Authority rule.
On a recent visit to Israel Carter visited my neighborhood near Jerusalem and refereed to this as areas Israel would not have to cede in a final status solution. While its not up to Carter what Israel should or shouldn't cede, he contradicts himself by referring to the "illegality of all Israeli settlements."
At Emory, when Carter set up his presidency in exile, we were used to this. Sadly nothing's changed.
35
So just to state the obvious, this is not 1978, Abbas is not Sadat, and what have the Palestinians done to deserve this kind of reward when all they have done is obstruct and meet peace overtures with violence for the past 20 years. Sorry, but it seems very logical that Israel takes its time before committing to something that would be potentially against its interest with no gain in return. Hey, I for one would be glad to be rid of the responsibility and bad press of having to be caretaker for a whole difficult and angry third world nation, but would not be rushed to do so until there is reasonable incentive and compromise.
On another note, and since this topic is related, the Times should really be ashamed of itself for using the words "Anti Muslim Holocaust" in another front page article describing some, albeit disturbing, rather mild hate graffiti, that by the way used the swastika and could just as easily have been Anti Semitic. The Holocaust was the Holocaust period. Nothing happening now even comes close to that horrid event - the Times should know better.
On another note, and since this topic is related, the Times should really be ashamed of itself for using the words "Anti Muslim Holocaust" in another front page article describing some, albeit disturbing, rather mild hate graffiti, that by the way used the swastika and could just as easily have been Anti Semitic. The Holocaust was the Holocaust period. Nothing happening now even comes close to that horrid event - the Times should know better.
27
President Carter's longstanding hostility to Israel blinds him to the core issue in the conflict: Palestinian refusal to accept a permanent Israel behind any boundaries and of any size. Indeed, Mahmoud Abbas has made it clear that a Palestinian state in the West Bank will not end the conflict, but will be used for further hostilities.
Rewarding Palestinian refusal to negotiate with statehood, will only exacerbate Palestinian intransigence. Rather former President Carter should call for ending decades of Palestinian indoctrination, and for recognition of Israel as a Jewish homeland.
Palestinian leaders have rejected every process that acknowledges Israel as a permanent state. Israeli territorial concessions, such as withdrawal from Gaza, or handover of much of the West Bank, have led only to more terror attacks. The "settlements" are mostly near Jerusalem, and on a tiny proportion of the West Bank. How long will it take to stop repeating the mistakes of pressuring Israel into evermore one-sided concessions to an implacable foe?
Rewarding Palestinian refusal to negotiate with statehood, will only exacerbate Palestinian intransigence. Rather former President Carter should call for ending decades of Palestinian indoctrination, and for recognition of Israel as a Jewish homeland.
Palestinian leaders have rejected every process that acknowledges Israel as a permanent state. Israeli territorial concessions, such as withdrawal from Gaza, or handover of much of the West Bank, have led only to more terror attacks. The "settlements" are mostly near Jerusalem, and on a tiny proportion of the West Bank. How long will it take to stop repeating the mistakes of pressuring Israel into evermore one-sided concessions to an implacable foe?
25
Mr. Carter ignores elemental facts in his simplified version of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
In pointing to UNSC Res. 242, banning the acquisition of territory by war, he ignores the fact that "East Jerusalem", along with Judea and Samaria, had been illegally seized by Jordan less than 20 years earlier, and that prior to the ethnic cleansing conducted by Jordan, it had a Jewish population for thousands of years. He ignores the fact that Jordan, in its decades of rule over the "West Bank", had never established a Palestinian state there and that even the PLO originally placed it under Jordanian sovereignty.
He ignores how the "1967 line" was actually created in 1949 by the Arab League's attempt to destroy the Israeli state, and how the Armistice line was not established as a border, even though the Israelis offered to do so both in 1949 and 1965.
He ignores how the Palestinian Authority has been working to rewrite history, denying even the teachings of his own Christian faith, to deny any Jewish connection to the city of Jerusalem.
He condemns Israel for not giving the Arabs of the West Bank Israeli citizenship, even though that would mean annexing the land and ending Arab self rule. He condemns Israeli settlements as occupying Arab land even though they use less than 3% of the West Bank.
Most certainly he ignores the Arab intransigence that consistently led to failures at Camp David despite all Israeli concessions.
In doing so he rewards Arab intolerance.
In pointing to UNSC Res. 242, banning the acquisition of territory by war, he ignores the fact that "East Jerusalem", along with Judea and Samaria, had been illegally seized by Jordan less than 20 years earlier, and that prior to the ethnic cleansing conducted by Jordan, it had a Jewish population for thousands of years. He ignores the fact that Jordan, in its decades of rule over the "West Bank", had never established a Palestinian state there and that even the PLO originally placed it under Jordanian sovereignty.
He ignores how the "1967 line" was actually created in 1949 by the Arab League's attempt to destroy the Israeli state, and how the Armistice line was not established as a border, even though the Israelis offered to do so both in 1949 and 1965.
He ignores how the Palestinian Authority has been working to rewrite history, denying even the teachings of his own Christian faith, to deny any Jewish connection to the city of Jerusalem.
He condemns Israel for not giving the Arabs of the West Bank Israeli citizenship, even though that would mean annexing the land and ending Arab self rule. He condemns Israeli settlements as occupying Arab land even though they use less than 3% of the West Bank.
Most certainly he ignores the Arab intransigence that consistently led to failures at Camp David despite all Israeli concessions.
In doing so he rewards Arab intolerance.
23
So long as Netanyahu and his right wing coalition is in power, there will be no peace with Palestinians. The ultra-right and ultra-religious believe that continued occupation, and the resulting violence that goes with it is, better than losing the territory. Simple as that.
7
Arabs, all over the middle east and worldwide, have never accepted Israel as a state. Until the Arab world can accept Israel, nothing can be done.
This is simple nonsense.
This is simple nonsense.
21
Carter sounds like a wise elder statesman at the age of 92. Trump, at 70,
sounds like he's well into the thros of dementia.
sounds like he's well into the thros of dementia.
10
What about the "elephant in the room," Hamas. How can you recognize a country which has two governments? Hamas has never backed off their mantra of "driving the Israelis into the sea."
18
Carter, like most of us, would like peace. He's done a fabulous job building homes and motivating people to help those in need. However, his vision is not shared by everyone. Certainly not Palestinian leadership. Hamas is a terror group that cares not for the people it supposedly leads. Hamas has put all resources into building tunnels to bring in weapons (and black market items) and then attacks Israel. They place weapons in front of hospitals and schools. They destroyed the infrastructure left by the Israelis. It is obvious that Carter, and the NYTimes, has been deceived by their grotesque tactics. And it's time to stop! They have been offered land and peace; they don't want it. They want the annihilation of Israel.
16
As always, admirable Jimmy Carter! However, this "chance" will most assuredly be squandered. Thanks to MSM such as the NYT, AIPAC, American evangelicals and assorted others, Israel will forever continue their perpetual state of conflict and persecution. Islam and the Palestinians most certainly have no lock on religious fanaticism. The only time the Israeli people will ever come to terms with their action is when they have to pay for it themselves, and that will never happen.
6
List of things to do for Israel this coming January:
1. Write letters to AIPAC, the Zionist Organization of America and The Anti-Defamation League thanking them for helping Israel in 2016. Join all of these organizations that you are not already a member of.
2. Write letters to the President, leaders of Congress and to your representatives, Democrat and Republican, thanking them for their support of Israel in 2016.
3. Pay close attention in coming days to the circumstances of Jews in Europe and other places in the world where Jews are increasingly coming under threat.
4. Write checks to health and social service organizations in Israel, especially those serving military personnel.
5. Subscribe to or at least begin to read, newspapers and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, National Review and Commentary Magazine that are making efforts to portray Israel in a fair manner.
6. Travel to Israel soon and take your children. You will be glad you did, especially if you have never traveled there before.
7. Go to shul soon, especially if you have not been in the habit of attending in recent years. You are especially needed now.
8. Send your kids to schools where they will learn about being Jewish.
9. Pray every day for Israel and the people and countries that support it.
1. Write letters to AIPAC, the Zionist Organization of America and The Anti-Defamation League thanking them for helping Israel in 2016. Join all of these organizations that you are not already a member of.
2. Write letters to the President, leaders of Congress and to your representatives, Democrat and Republican, thanking them for their support of Israel in 2016.
3. Pay close attention in coming days to the circumstances of Jews in Europe and other places in the world where Jews are increasingly coming under threat.
4. Write checks to health and social service organizations in Israel, especially those serving military personnel.
5. Subscribe to or at least begin to read, newspapers and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, National Review and Commentary Magazine that are making efforts to portray Israel in a fair manner.
6. Travel to Israel soon and take your children. You will be glad you did, especially if you have never traveled there before.
7. Go to shul soon, especially if you have not been in the habit of attending in recent years. You are especially needed now.
8. Send your kids to schools where they will learn about being Jewish.
9. Pray every day for Israel and the people and countries that support it.
20
President Obama : Time to earn your place as a Peace-maker. This country has already on the verge of chaos. Thanks to the timid media.
2
With threats to its security at an all-time high, the last thing Israel needs is this ghost from the past weighing in with idealistic but unworkable ideas.
The "Palestinians" have done little to show that they deserve a state or could govern one if they had one. At the moment, they are busy conducting an Arson Intifada.
An the UN is so biased against Israel that injecting the into the mix is laughable. Let's all hope that our current POTUS leaves gracefully before doing any further damage in the Middle East.
The "Palestinians" have done little to show that they deserve a state or could govern one if they had one. At the moment, they are busy conducting an Arson Intifada.
An the UN is so biased against Israel that injecting the into the mix is laughable. Let's all hope that our current POTUS leaves gracefully before doing any further damage in the Middle East.
24
Whose narrative is this? Mr. Carter skews the argument by his choice of context. If one follows the hyperlink to "key words" you find the following:
"Egypt and Jordan accepted resolution 242 (1967) and con- sidered Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied in the 1967 war as a precondition to negotiations. Israel, which also accepted the resolution, stated that the questions of withdrawal and refugees could be settled only through direct negotiations with the Arab States and the conclusion of a comprehensive peace treaty."
"Egypt and Jordan accepted resolution 242 (1967) and con- sidered Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied in the 1967 war as a precondition to negotiations. Israel, which also accepted the resolution, stated that the questions of withdrawal and refugees could be settled only through direct negotiations with the Arab States and the conclusion of a comprehensive peace treaty."
5
The US taxpayer is subsidizing the settlements. Mr. Carter don't you think it's a little bit hypocritical of the US to subsidize Israel's expansion and recognize a Palestinian State based on 1967 borders?
A recognition of a Palestinian State with 1967 borders, even with trade offs, by the US would make it much more difficult for the US to give the right wing government of Israel the huge subsidies that have continued and expanded under President Obama.
A recognition of a Palestinian State with 1967 borders, even with trade offs, by the US would make it much more difficult for the US to give the right wing government of Israel the huge subsidies that have continued and expanded under President Obama.
5
With all due respect to President Carter and the major achievement of the Camp David accords; he was dealing with Begin and not the obstructionism of Netahenyu. More importantly Palestine in not a single entity since the split of Hamas and Fatah. Hamas responded to Israeli overtures in their withdrawal
from Gaza with rocket barrages and vow to achieve the dissolution of Isreals jewish identify. The more moderate fatah faction balances it;s responses to accomodate the populace that supports Hamas initiatives.
from Gaza with rocket barrages and vow to achieve the dissolution of Isreals jewish identify. The more moderate fatah faction balances it;s responses to accomodate the populace that supports Hamas initiatives.
1
I have great admiration for President Carter, but on this issue I sadly have to disagree. The two-state solution has been dead since the right in Israel assassinated Prime Minister Rabin. The US should remove themselves from this dispute completely. Since the end of the Cold War, Israel has been of little strategic use to the US. There is no reason to continue giving Israel an allowance of billions of dollars. There is no reason for us to stay involved.
3-STATE SOLUTION: ONLY SUSTAINABLE PATH TO ARAB-ISRAELI SETTLEMENT?
Option of Fatah rule in West Bank is none other than State Dept fiction and doesn't exist in the real world.
Only power keeping Fatah alive and preventing the West Bank from being overran by Hamas (just like Gaza) is the Israeli military.
For West-Bank Arabs therefore, there are only two real options to pick from: (a) Hamas rule, or (b) Jordanian rule.
If Arabs and other enemies of Israel really wanted peace and co-existence, they would not invent and nurture a non-existent "Palestinian" identity, while Jordan already covers nearly 80% of Mandatory Palestine and most Gaza Arabs are indistinguishable from Egypt's Sinai Bedouin.
They would instead pursue the only logical coexistential and sustainable path – A "3-State Solution" composed of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan:
- Gaza: Under security and political linkage Egypt, turned into an autonomous Arab entity that can prosper as a Singapore/Dubai-like industrial/logistics hub on the Eastern Mediterranean.
- West Bank: In light of more complex geopolitics as well as looming Hamas takeover, parts of West Bank should to be linked to Jordan in some sort of federative structure; safeguarding security and settlements for Israel, demographics for Arabs, holy sites for both.
Any further "Palestinism" or "2-State Solutionism" on narrow sliver stands to serve not the cause of "peace" but to indefinitely extend further strife and bloodshed for all parties concerned.
Option of Fatah rule in West Bank is none other than State Dept fiction and doesn't exist in the real world.
Only power keeping Fatah alive and preventing the West Bank from being overran by Hamas (just like Gaza) is the Israeli military.
For West-Bank Arabs therefore, there are only two real options to pick from: (a) Hamas rule, or (b) Jordanian rule.
If Arabs and other enemies of Israel really wanted peace and co-existence, they would not invent and nurture a non-existent "Palestinian" identity, while Jordan already covers nearly 80% of Mandatory Palestine and most Gaza Arabs are indistinguishable from Egypt's Sinai Bedouin.
They would instead pursue the only logical coexistential and sustainable path – A "3-State Solution" composed of Israel, Egypt, and Jordan:
- Gaza: Under security and political linkage Egypt, turned into an autonomous Arab entity that can prosper as a Singapore/Dubai-like industrial/logistics hub on the Eastern Mediterranean.
- West Bank: In light of more complex geopolitics as well as looming Hamas takeover, parts of West Bank should to be linked to Jordan in some sort of federative structure; safeguarding security and settlements for Israel, demographics for Arabs, holy sites for both.
Any further "Palestinism" or "2-State Solutionism" on narrow sliver stands to serve not the cause of "peace" but to indefinitely extend further strife and bloodshed for all parties concerned.
6
I, too, would love to see the two neighbors live in peace as two separate states. An essential first step in that process is for Palestine to recognize Israel as a state. Second, Palestine needs to disavow and disarm its militants who threaten Israeli security. Third, the UN must become less biased against Israel.
13
How about the PA recognize Israel?
How about Hamas recognize Israel & drop their sworn goal to destroy Israel & all Jews in Israel?
How about Hamas recognize Israel & drop their sworn goal to destroy Israel & all Jews in Israel?
16
Bravo. I hope Obama listens.
7
It strikes me (naively to be sure) that there is a "peace process " going on constantly as the two entities interdigitate with one another. It also strikes me that for any "peace" to really work the people themselves must want it (not just Pres Carter). Lastly it strikes me that the people of Israel and the people of Palestine, judging by overall actions, do not want peace.
Carter was a disaster as President. Other than providing a forum for Israel and Egypt to make peace at Camp David through direct negotiations, Carter was a failure at foreign policy. His weakness and gullibility led to Iran humiliating the US by holding our diplomats hostage.
He bemoans the ebbing of the spirit of Camp David. But that spirit is alive and well as Israel and Egypt have kept the peace and are cooperating. The PLO was not at Camp David and were never parties to that spirit. Now decades later ex-President Carter remembers he forgot to send them an invitation. Truly pathetic.
He bemoans the ebbing of the spirit of Camp David. But that spirit is alive and well as Israel and Egypt have kept the peace and are cooperating. The PLO was not at Camp David and were never parties to that spirit. Now decades later ex-President Carter remembers he forgot to send them an invitation. Truly pathetic.
13
If what President Carter suggests could be done now in the final few weeks of the Obama presidency, surely this could have been done earlier and had a better chance of success.
Now with the Republicans intent on rolling back everything that President Obama did, a recognition of Israel would probably be reversed in the first few hours after the inauguration.
While I admire President Carter's persistence and everything he has done to see justice done to the Palestinian people, their cause is dead. Nothing about Trump says he has any sympathy for them. With both America and Israel turning hard right, they will join history's rootless people victims of forces too powerful for them.
Now with the Republicans intent on rolling back everything that President Obama did, a recognition of Israel would probably be reversed in the first few hours after the inauguration.
While I admire President Carter's persistence and everything he has done to see justice done to the Palestinian people, their cause is dead. Nothing about Trump says he has any sympathy for them. With both America and Israel turning hard right, they will join history's rootless people victims of forces too powerful for them.
2
I have never understood how the land that was home to all three important religions - Christian, Muslim and Jewish - has been allowed to be designated as "a Jewish state." For religions to wage war on each other seems the antithesis of the concept of God.
4
In case you didn't notice there is a Sunni Shia civil war occurring in the Middle East. Warring within one religion.
3
Forget about it.
Palestinians have decided their own fate in life. The land has always belonged to the Jews. Palestinians had way too many chances to find a peaceful solution.
Palestinians have decided their own fate in life. The land has always belonged to the Jews. Palestinians had way too many chances to find a peaceful solution.
11
#1. 1979 Argreement was sign between Egypt and Israel and Israel fulfill it completely. Israel release ALL territory it took from Egypt even disputed.
Its just stupid to release territory to other participant in war without making peace deal with them.
#2. Carter adm. fail to negotiate peace on 1979 deal with Lebanon, Syria and PLO because they refuse and relay on force to resolve this conflict on own terms - total destruction of Israel. Why do you think Israel have to hold hand with same offer for all this time? Spirit of your Camp David had been dead for a while and Arafat give it a nice funeral when he refuse Clinton Camp David and start 2nd intifada.
#3. What in the name of all that good and green make you (Carter and his supporter) think it will move peace forward? Don't you learn anything from enforcing peace by Bush in Iraq by Obama in Libya and Syria? On example of enforcing democracy in Gaza and Egypt?
Dear Pz Carter,
In your Damp David you had to willing partners in peace deal. Key condition that you can't enforce neither on Israel or Palestine so just go away. Your time is long over
Its just stupid to release territory to other participant in war without making peace deal with them.
#2. Carter adm. fail to negotiate peace on 1979 deal with Lebanon, Syria and PLO because they refuse and relay on force to resolve this conflict on own terms - total destruction of Israel. Why do you think Israel have to hold hand with same offer for all this time? Spirit of your Camp David had been dead for a while and Arafat give it a nice funeral when he refuse Clinton Camp David and start 2nd intifada.
#3. What in the name of all that good and green make you (Carter and his supporter) think it will move peace forward? Don't you learn anything from enforcing peace by Bush in Iraq by Obama in Libya and Syria? On example of enforcing democracy in Gaza and Egypt?
Dear Pz Carter,
In your Damp David you had to willing partners in peace deal. Key condition that you can't enforce neither on Israel or Palestine so just go away. Your time is long over
9
As the old saying goes, you lie down with dogs and get up with fleas. Jimmy Carter is the living, breathing embodiment of that expression. He rubs elbows with the likes of Fidel Casto, Hugo Chavez, and Yasir Arafat, claiming they were all soldier for justice. He even proclaimed Venezuela's election process to be the best in the world. False and false!
That liberal progressives can't distinguish between clear right and wrong speaks to their affliction: moral ambivalence.
That liberal progressives can't distinguish between clear right and wrong speaks to their affliction: moral ambivalence.
11
Ugh!! Labeling Carter as a liberal progressive. We liberal progressives are not drawn to Castro, Chavez, or that Nobel Peace prize winner Arafat.
2
Thank you, Jimmy Carter, still a voice of reason in a world gone mad. I hope President Obama listens to you.
8
We recognize that they are lawless group that does not want peace. Anything else is ignoring the truth.
2
Dear President Carter:
Until the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist, no recognition of statehood should be made.
Until the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist, no recognition of statehood should be made.
11
The United States is bankrolling the genocide of the Palestinians and this will only increase under President Trump.
4
Mr. Carter forgets that it is the Palestinians and the Arab leadership before them that has rejected the two-state solution twelve times since 1937; most recently in 2008. The crux of their rejection is their inability to recognize that anyone, much less Jews, could declare their independence in territory that at any time had been conquered by the Arabs. They refuse to recognize that Israel is a Jewish nation, as does Carter (why doesn't he have a problem with the Islamic Republics in most of the Muslim world, but he does with the Jews?). The Palestinian leadership considers every Jew a settler, writing Jews and Judaism out of their history of the Land of Israel.
Furthermore, he neglects to mention that while Jews have been in the land since the time of Abraham and ruled there several times, there never was an Arab state in the land; Arabs considered it a part of Damascus-controlled area, a backwater. Even Jerusalem was of minimal importance, until Jews began returning there in the 19th Century, a mass movement that sparked massive immigration of Arabs from elsewhere eager to take advantage of the growing Jewish-powered economy. Most of today's "Palestinian" Arabs can trace the history there only to the 30s and 40s, far shorter than their propaganda claims.
Furthermore, he neglects to mention that while Jews have been in the land since the time of Abraham and ruled there several times, there never was an Arab state in the land; Arabs considered it a part of Damascus-controlled area, a backwater. Even Jerusalem was of minimal importance, until Jews began returning there in the 19th Century, a mass movement that sparked massive immigration of Arabs from elsewhere eager to take advantage of the growing Jewish-powered economy. Most of today's "Palestinian" Arabs can trace the history there only to the 30s and 40s, far shorter than their propaganda claims.
13
Thank you Mr. Carter. We have been blessed to have you continue working for peace and humanity. You have a great spirit and heart. I hope Mr. Obama listens to you. Otherwise we will have to stand back and watch Israel destroy what is left of the Palestinian people.
5
Palestinian people are destroying themselves. Hamas provoking a rain of destruction on their people. The PA rejecting generous peace settlements.
5
The question remains who takes the first step. Will Hamas and others recognizes Israel's place in the world as they they seek their own territory? President Carter is naive to thing that this is possibility.
9
The 'Diskin/CIS UN Chapter 7 Plan' is already in motion
The evacuation of Amona, despite the massive opposition, it's just the early stage
The evacuation of Amona, despite the massive opposition, it's just the early stage
Advice from the same President who celebrated Castro. Perhaps the world is better off seeking strategy from leaders who display less antipathy for American interests around the world.
7
President Carter's premise is mistaken. The "key words" he relies on about the inadmissibility of acquiring territory by force are in the preamble (and so have no legal weight) and do not apply in any event to territory acquired as a result of a defensive war - which the war with Jordan clearly was.
What he doesn't say, of course, is that nowhere in UNSC 242 are the Palestinians mentioned - mostly because they were not viewed as an independent entity. Also Carter fails to mention that the PLO's 1964 Charter expressly denied any sovereign rights to the very terrirories they now claim as theirs from time immemorial.
As far as UNSC 242 is concerned, with the relinquishment of the Sinai and Gaza, Israel has already withdrawn from some 95% of the lands taken during the Six Day War - and so one could argue it is in compliance. In the interim, Isreali "occupation" has resulted in the doubling of Palestinian Arab life expectancy, the crashing of incidents of infant mortality to below any of its neighbors, electrification and plumbing to villages and more.
By their actions and their rhetoric, the Palestinian Arabs are clear in their goal: to destroy the nation state of the Jewish people and then fold themselves into a Syrian confederacy - the Arab country that used to hold sway in the area back in the heyday of Muslim imperialism. Until that mindset changes, very little else will.
What he doesn't say, of course, is that nowhere in UNSC 242 are the Palestinians mentioned - mostly because they were not viewed as an independent entity. Also Carter fails to mention that the PLO's 1964 Charter expressly denied any sovereign rights to the very terrirories they now claim as theirs from time immemorial.
As far as UNSC 242 is concerned, with the relinquishment of the Sinai and Gaza, Israel has already withdrawn from some 95% of the lands taken during the Six Day War - and so one could argue it is in compliance. In the interim, Isreali "occupation" has resulted in the doubling of Palestinian Arab life expectancy, the crashing of incidents of infant mortality to below any of its neighbors, electrification and plumbing to villages and more.
By their actions and their rhetoric, the Palestinian Arabs are clear in their goal: to destroy the nation state of the Jewish people and then fold themselves into a Syrian confederacy - the Arab country that used to hold sway in the area back in the heyday of Muslim imperialism. Until that mindset changes, very little else will.
13
Jimmy Carter was not the best president, but he was definitely one of the best men to be president. He is one of the only men that earns more respect from me every time he opens his mouth, and this well written op-ed is no exception. Americans are afraid to acknowledge Israel's immoral actions, I suppose once you're close enough allies with the US you've earned complete blind protection. I tip my hat to you, Mr. Carter, for never being afraid to state the facts and speak the truth. Maybe if people listen to you this time, we can make legitimate change.
6
How can the people that were treated horribly by the Germans act this way towards their cousins? They did not leave this land, they were pushed out.
3
UN guarantees are the diplomatic equivalent of wooden nickels. Where has
such a program ever been an unequivocal success? Tibet?--no. Cyprus?--no.
Western Sahara ?--no.(Etc.,etc.) So who's kidding whom?
Closer to the point of friction, the UN adopted a resolution(1701). calling for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. Was it successful?--no. The UN itself certified that Israel had relinquished all the Lebanese territory it had
occupied, so it was imposswible for Hezbollah to claim that it was fighting the
"occupation". Did it matter?--no.
The UN itself admitted that its buffer force of peacekeepers had failed to
do its job in an effective and unbiased manner. UNEFIL was so ineffective the
UN dumped it entirely, replacing it with a new, more"robust" version which
collapsed within months when the countries providing the "peacekeepers"|
realized that Hezbollah wasn't kidding around even if they themselves were.
such a program ever been an unequivocal success? Tibet?--no. Cyprus?--no.
Western Sahara ?--no.(Etc.,etc.) So who's kidding whom?
Closer to the point of friction, the UN adopted a resolution(1701). calling for the disarmament of all militias in Lebanon. Was it successful?--no. The UN itself certified that Israel had relinquished all the Lebanese territory it had
occupied, so it was imposswible for Hezbollah to claim that it was fighting the
"occupation". Did it matter?--no.
The UN itself admitted that its buffer force of peacekeepers had failed to
do its job in an effective and unbiased manner. UNEFIL was so ineffective the
UN dumped it entirely, replacing it with a new, more"robust" version which
collapsed within months when the countries providing the "peacekeepers"|
realized that Hezbollah wasn't kidding around even if they themselves were.
7
With due respect, when the West Bank can hold elections and Gaza is opened by Egypt, Israel can be pressured to peace talks. Until then, all this proposal will do is unleash more violence.
Rest in peace, President Carter, but your administration failed, as did Clinton's and we no longer have the moral authority to dictate terms.
Rest in peace, President Carter, but your administration failed, as did Clinton's and we no longer have the moral authority to dictate terms.
8
Hardly to imagine a more biased opinion.
And full of wrong facts:
"Most live largely under Israeli military rule"
This is not true. More than 85% of Palestinians live in the Area A, completely under the rule of the Palestinian Authority.
Not a word about the opposition by The PA to recognize Israel as a jewish State.
And full of wrong facts:
"Most live largely under Israeli military rule"
This is not true. More than 85% of Palestinians live in the Area A, completely under the rule of the Palestinian Authority.
Not a word about the opposition by The PA to recognize Israel as a jewish State.
14
The fact that these Arabs just tried to burn Israel to the ground tells me this will never ever happen. You can't negotiate with these people. Send them to Saudi Arabia. They have housing for 3 million waiting for them. Go already.
10
As an American Jew who has read much of Martin Buber I fully appreciate this humane intelligent and eloquent wisdom. Martin Buber always believed from the very beginning that Jews and Arabs must join together and form common bonds, understand each other in religion, language, and work for the common good.
Martin Buber, Jewish Philosopher, addressed Prime Minister Ben Gurion on the moral character of the state of Israel with reference to the Arab refugees in March 1949: “We will have to face the reality that Israel is neither innocent, nor redemptive. And that in its creation, and expansion; we as Jews, have caused what we historically have suffered; a refugee population in Diaspora.”
They didn't understand him then and they don't understand today even more.
Thank you, President Carter. Your strength of character, your engagement, your personal integrity, and your calm wisdom is so needed. We have just elected a man that is not capable on any level of dealing with the complex issues of our dangerous world and I truly shudder in my soul--not only for Israel but for our beautiful planet and everything which makes life worth living.
I wish you and your family peace and that your health and engagement will thrive when we need you most!
Martin Buber, Jewish Philosopher, addressed Prime Minister Ben Gurion on the moral character of the state of Israel with reference to the Arab refugees in March 1949: “We will have to face the reality that Israel is neither innocent, nor redemptive. And that in its creation, and expansion; we as Jews, have caused what we historically have suffered; a refugee population in Diaspora.”
They didn't understand him then and they don't understand today even more.
Thank you, President Carter. Your strength of character, your engagement, your personal integrity, and your calm wisdom is so needed. We have just elected a man that is not capable on any level of dealing with the complex issues of our dangerous world and I truly shudder in my soul--not only for Israel but for our beautiful planet and everything which makes life worth living.
I wish you and your family peace and that your health and engagement will thrive when we need you most!
8
The Palestinian's have done absolutely nothing to bring this about but reject everything put in front of them. This has to be a two way solutions or Israel will no longer exit. Is that what you want Mr. Carter?
11
Jimmy Carter's is a voice in the wilderness created by an unholy alliance of ignorance and cowardice in this country and belligerent intransigence in Israel. And yet what he says is and will be the base line by which humanity will judge the American people, for our own position in the world has been fatefully--let's hope not fatally--defined by our position on this conflict. As the descendant of a Jew myself, I utterly reject the lie that what Israel does and is defines the Jewish people and Judaism. The prophets themselves left their own baseline and it's not in what Israel does today, with America's help and acquiescent cowardice.
4
Thanks President Carter.
4
The second worst president of my lifetime supports recognizing the terrorist government of Palestine. Fortunately, he was a one term president.
8
I'm not sure why so many on here lionize Jimmy Carter. He was a terrible president and doesn't seem to have gained any more common sense or feel for foreign affairs since then.
6
Trump's Jewish son-in-law will fix the problem. Mostly by siding with the Israel government in the annihilation of the Palestine state. So that would be a one-state solution. Maybe they can move them to Syria, to replace the population they lost in their civil war.
2
Jimmy Carter should stick to growing peanuts. The Land of Israel was given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in an everlasting covenant by God Himself. He owns the universe and He decides what He wants to do with it. The Land was once given to the Caananites, Jebusites, Hittites, and others including the Philistines. They did not do what was acceptable to God so the Land was taken from them and given to the Jewish People. That is all there is to it. If the so-called "Palestinians" are not happy living there, they are welcome to leave and live somewhere else. The League of Nations divided the entire area into Jewish Palestine which is now Israel, and Arab Palestine which is now Jordan. The border is along the Jordan River. The map was initially made in 1920, and then changed in 1922 to make Israel smaller and the Arab nations much larger. The "Palestinians" now living in Israel are not interested in peace with the Jews at all, and they never will be. That is a total farce and bold faced lie. The sooner they are relocated the better. The time and money spent on this should be to give them homes in countries where they can prosper like Kuwait, Dubai, or many others in the Arab world. That is the best solution.
9
Years ago, Brent Scowcroft emailed to me agreement with me on the issue of whether the U.S. Embassy to Israel should be moved to Jerusalem. He said it should be placed on the property the U.S. owns there for the Embassy, that the U.S. should pay to the Palestinian family a fair market value for that property (which was confiscated by the Israeli Government and sold to the US. for a token price), and accredit the U.S. Ambassador in residence there to both the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The current likelihood that the Embassy MIGHT be moved there would be an opportune time to implement Scowcroft's proposal.
2
Mr. Carter's editorial is painfully naïve and borders on delusion. It is now patently clear, as has been for decades, that the Palestinians will never allow a peaceful coexistence to exist with Israel. The so-called "Two State Solution" is, unfortunately, a fantasy.
Perhaps, if the rest of the Arab world can objectively look at the economic and peaceful partnership that exists between Israel and Egypt, and get past its raw hatred of Israel, it will realize that the best long term interests of the Middle East would be to follow that example. But now I'm being naïve and delusional.
Perhaps, if the rest of the Arab world can objectively look at the economic and peaceful partnership that exists between Israel and Egypt, and get past its raw hatred of Israel, it will realize that the best long term interests of the Middle East would be to follow that example. But now I'm being naïve and delusional.
10
Another thing that could be done is to stop military and economic support of Israel until they decide that they will be peacemakers.
7
President Carter's suggestion of a UN force to keep the peace (or at least the parties away from each other) betrays a failure of memory. The UN had such peacekeeping forces in the region and all have been failures thanks to Arab intransigence. In 1967, the UN peacekeepers in Sinai left at Nasser's request, leading to the Egyptian build-up, the closing of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping (a casus bellum in itself) and eventually the Six Day War. Last year, the IDF rescued Irish UN observers in Syria, while others had to be ransomed from jihadists. And who can forget the great job of the UN observers in Lebanon who have permitted not only a re-armament of Southern Lebanon by Hizballah far exceeding its original complement of missiles and all hidden among the cowed civilian population.
In what universe is Presdient Carter operating that he can even suggest such a non-starter? Perhaps one in which he imagines the Palestinian Arabs suddenly agreeing to his proposal that their state be demilitarized, when they have already rejected that the idea when it was advanced first by Prime Minister Netanyahu and later by Secretary of State Kerry?
President Carter's humanitarian efforts would be far better spent on highlighting the plight of the embattled Christian communities that are under siege throughout the Middle East - with, of course, the exception of Israel where their religious rights are respected and the communities grow unmolested.
In what universe is Presdient Carter operating that he can even suggest such a non-starter? Perhaps one in which he imagines the Palestinian Arabs suddenly agreeing to his proposal that their state be demilitarized, when they have already rejected that the idea when it was advanced first by Prime Minister Netanyahu and later by Secretary of State Kerry?
President Carter's humanitarian efforts would be far better spent on highlighting the plight of the embattled Christian communities that are under siege throughout the Middle East - with, of course, the exception of Israel where their religious rights are respected and the communities grow unmolested.
9
Netanyahu is an authoritarian theocrat, which history has shown is a rather dangerous commodity in terms of the numbers of people who end up dead. And as far as to whom that desert land "belongs", we encounter yet another reppression of indigenous peoples, a pattern seen everywhere in the world, particularly in the good ol' USA. Palestine's indigenous people were certainly not European Jews, but rather nomadic Semitic tribes, many practicing Islam, some Judaism, some Christianity. But religion is an irrelevant parameter, here; the Christians could just as soon make a claim to the land (as the birthplace of Christ) on those terms. A sane assessment, with the religious parameter marginalized tells us that indigenous folks hold title and that both Christians and Jews carried out acts of militaristic imperialism, with the Zionist movement ultimately winning that one. But to say that Israel is the land of the Jewish people mistakes international political agreement for indigenous residency. Theocracies are famous for inventing self-consistent explanations in a hindsight based on questionable assumptions.
5
My salute to President Jimmy Carter, the greatest human being living in this planet. Most politicians are croôk . But Mr. Carter is a decent courageous honest man who spent his whole life for poor and less fortunate people all over the world. He is a saint.
7
The only time Jimmy Carter has been right. He should be thankful that Obama has succeeded him as the worst president in US history.
2
A little perspective might help. Today, the Arabs found themselves governing (or more precisely, ruling, as democratic institutions do not appear to be their forte) over 99.5% of the lands formerly held by the Ottoman Empire, among the losers of WWI. The last time the Arabs were in control was the 11th century. Israel sits on the remaining 0.5%. In 1922, the area, whose Western part eventually became Jordan, was internationally recognized as the historical homeland of the Jewish people throughout which they were given a right to return (if you want to see what a real right of return looks like, read the Mandate's language). Eventually, the territory was partitioned down to about 10% of the original space. The Jews have not only returned to their land (which exposes the hollowness of the mantra about "settler colonial enterprise"), they have made the land flourish like never before and in a democratic, civil society.
The problem has never been Jewish return, the problem remains Arab rejectionism of history and right. For them, the dispute is theological: the Jews have forgotten their place in the sacred order; they should resume their status as the despised and powerless minority Allah decreed. That Jews succeed so spectacularly is the real "humiliation" that so rankles the Arab psyche.
Those who infantilize Arabs as unable to control their actions and needing outside help, simply confirm that the racist concept of the White Man's Burden is alive and well in the 21st Century.
The problem has never been Jewish return, the problem remains Arab rejectionism of history and right. For them, the dispute is theological: the Jews have forgotten their place in the sacred order; they should resume their status as the despised and powerless minority Allah decreed. That Jews succeed so spectacularly is the real "humiliation" that so rankles the Arab psyche.
Those who infantilize Arabs as unable to control their actions and needing outside help, simply confirm that the racist concept of the White Man's Burden is alive and well in the 21st Century.
9
Dear President Carter, we have sunk so low with the election of this demagogue I don't see how it's going to be possible to accomplish much of anything with Rump/Pence, two of the most despicable clowns in the GOP circus. Imagine these two in the White House. We'll be lucky to make it through their term without blowing up the world let alone make any headway in the Mideast. God Bless You, Sir, for all the work you've done. You are a shining example and bold counterpoint to the odious creature about to become president of was once a great country.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
4
Thank you Mr. President.A thoughtful,articulate essay.Such a contradiction,to the tweeting president elect.
5
Recognition of Palestine should occur sooner than later but if President Obama does so in his last weeks in office it'll be viewed more as his unilateral action than a consensus U.S. foreign policy step, and likely as much anti-Netanyahu as pro-peace and pro-equality between Israel and Palestine. This is especially true given that Palestine is politically fractured. Trump, who's already pledged to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, and with the support of congressional Republicans, will immediately denounce and work to rescind President Obama's action as anti-Israel and short-sighted. It's important that U.S. recognition of Palestine be seen as a strongly supported and lasting action.
3
It is hard to imagine a worse suggestion than the one advocated by Mr. Carter especially given the fact that Israel has just gone through a wide series of arson attacks by Palestinian terrorists. In short Mr. Carter has always been a terrorist enabler. He believes that by appeasing terror peace can be achieved (that is why his foreign policy was such a disaster as President). He is exactly wrong, the minute the Palestinians realize that the deal they get today will be better than the one they get tomorrow and so forth, at that moment peace will become possible. When the Palestinians accept the permanent existence of the state of Israel as a Jewish State peace will be possible. Every pressure must be placed on them to accept this truth. Giving them a state before that is simply rewarding recalcitrance.
9
America, a day late and a dollar short.
3
President Carter's position is consistent with my wish list, but inconsistent with the facts on the ground. Begin and Sadat agreed on a full pullback from all conquered lands because they represented stable governments and had international guarantors. Not even mentioning rejectionist ISIS ... the quick-sand governments of Middle East, the tenuous governments of Palestine / Gaza(?), and the shifting stands of the super powers committing themselves this way and that way in the ongoing turmoils of the Middle East, make it impossible at this time to take the "high road".
As a very liberal resident of Israel who hates what "the occupation" is doing to both sides, recognizing the State of Palestine in the full sense of the term (e.g. borders, army) would be irresponsible.
What we need to do is to maximize productive, fulfilling, normal and independent life in the "territories" with no compromise on respect and equal treatment of all residents. And yes, this also means a freeze on settlements that seem to be a thorn in the eye of the Palestinians if not a legitimate reason for the ever present suspicion of Israeli intent.
As a very liberal resident of Israel who hates what "the occupation" is doing to both sides, recognizing the State of Palestine in the full sense of the term (e.g. borders, army) would be irresponsible.
What we need to do is to maximize productive, fulfilling, normal and independent life in the "territories" with no compromise on respect and equal treatment of all residents. And yes, this also means a freeze on settlements that seem to be a thorn in the eye of the Palestinians if not a legitimate reason for the ever present suspicion of Israeli intent.
3
Please, President Obama: President Carter is handing you another chance to earn that Nobel Peace Prize.
6
Aside from a streak of moral superiority, the ex-president is a decent man. That in no way makes his opinion, borne of a deep desire to have made some difference in his disasterous one term, worthy of more than a passing read. Israel owes the landless Jordanians and Syrians - there are no such peoples as "palestinians" - nothing. Jordan and Syria are too cowardly to repatriate the citizens they cynically abandoned after the war they started blew up in their grounded air forces' cockpits. European anti-semitism, which has a long and dirty history, liberal revisionism and insulted arabs form the front striving to denude Israel. They should be glad they've been treated decently deapite their multi-generationsl jihads. Had they spent that time joining the world of civilization instead of using their gutter religion as excuse for mayhem, they might invite true sympathy. Instead they are what they are - wards of a victorious state, left to rot by their brethren across the sand. Too bad.
5
Quite right. To make peace the parties have to address each.other as equals. As members of the UN. The current Israeli government is not disposed to negotiating and is against the Camp David process. Why not recognize Palestine? It would be a fitting bookend to Harry Truman's recognition of Israel.
4
At least once a year, Jimmy Carter writes an editorial to remind everyone of his sole diplomatic achievement.
Regardless, while I am also in favor of two States, let me set history straight.
Since the demise of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, no one has had sovereignty over the West Bank. The British occupied it until 1948, then Jordan until 1967. Both nations have relinquished any claim to it.
The only nation that has any legal claim to the West Bank is Israel. In July 1922, in what has become known as the "Mandate for Palestine," the League of Nations mandated "a national homeland for the Jewish people" in Palestine. And in September 1922, when Trans-Jordan was excised from the Mandate, the Official Journal of the League of Nations stated "the object of these resolutions was to withdraw Trans-Jordan from the special provisions which were intended to provide a national homelands for the Jews west of the Jordan (River)." West of the Jordan River includes all of what is now Israel and the West Bank.
And UN resolution 242 did not require Israel to withdraw from "all" territories captured in 1967. The omission of the word "all" was deliberate.
Israel may decide that it's in its national interest to create a Palestinian State (indeed the Palestinians have already been offered one in 1948, 2000 and 2008), but until then, Israel has the legal right to occupy and settle it - except on land previously owned by Arabs.
Regardless, while I am also in favor of two States, let me set history straight.
Since the demise of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, no one has had sovereignty over the West Bank. The British occupied it until 1948, then Jordan until 1967. Both nations have relinquished any claim to it.
The only nation that has any legal claim to the West Bank is Israel. In July 1922, in what has become known as the "Mandate for Palestine," the League of Nations mandated "a national homeland for the Jewish people" in Palestine. And in September 1922, when Trans-Jordan was excised from the Mandate, the Official Journal of the League of Nations stated "the object of these resolutions was to withdraw Trans-Jordan from the special provisions which were intended to provide a national homelands for the Jews west of the Jordan (River)." West of the Jordan River includes all of what is now Israel and the West Bank.
And UN resolution 242 did not require Israel to withdraw from "all" territories captured in 1967. The omission of the word "all" was deliberate.
Israel may decide that it's in its national interest to create a Palestinian State (indeed the Palestinians have already been offered one in 1948, 2000 and 2008), but until then, Israel has the legal right to occupy and settle it - except on land previously owned by Arabs.
8
If anything can prove the irrelevance of these two people to Israel, it is this.
Nothing would push peace further away more than acceding to the demands of these terrorists and confirming that murdering Jews is the best way to achieve their goals.
We’re all looking forward to the new era of facing down Islamic terror with strength that can begin when appeasers like Carter and Obama are swept aside.
Nothing would push peace further away more than acceding to the demands of these terrorists and confirming that murdering Jews is the best way to achieve their goals.
We’re all looking forward to the new era of facing down Islamic terror with strength that can begin when appeasers like Carter and Obama are swept aside.
7
A worthy, if unrealistic goal: Palestinian democracy, like the Arab Spring, has about as much chance as an iceberg in Hades. The notion of UN peacekeepers simply does not stand up to any test: as soon as the bullets fly, so do the blue helmets. Finally, the moral weight of UN pronouncements is worthless. The UN has long ago sunk into a morass of bureaucratic corruption, and domination in the General Assembly and the UN's many organizations by the most anti-democratic and anti-Semitic countries on the planet. We witness daily the killing in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, with the UN an impotent actor. We saw their abject failure in Rwanda. How are we to believe they will suddenly become effective in Israeli-Palestinian peace? When the "true believers" in each camp lose their hold on the agenda, then and only then will Israelis and Palestinians be able to overcome more than 100 years of emnity and forge a peace between themselves.
3
I must have missed his condemnation of the fires that were set to destroy the land they supposedly want...
7
I think it is time for a one state solution, equal rights for all. Let the political parties sort it out from both sides. The middle is militarized and in blood feud with new generations not afraid to fight and die. Sooner or alter it is going to spill over to Israel. With or without our protection of Israel serious damage will be done. Status quo in the area has changed forever. Wake up.
2
The two-state "solution" has been dead for at least the last ten years. Within the borders now controlled by Israel is one state, with one monetary system, one electrical grid, one water system, and one military. The problem is that over half the population within its clearly defined borders is not "chosen" and hence has lesser rights of citizenship or none at all.
It is time for all Americans to demand one state with equal rights of citizenship.
It is time for all Americans to demand one state with equal rights of citizenship.
3
President Obama was not elected to represent the Palestinian people. He has no constitutional responsibility in this area.
To act as the former president recommends would be an abuse of power - using the People's office to pursue personal goals.
Lame-duck action by Barack Hussein Obama to try to restore Islamic sovereignty of Jerusalem would brand him forever as a secret jihadi.
He would prove Donald Trump was right about him.
It would be political suicide for President Obama. It would stick the Democratic party with another injury at a very bad time; there is no public opinion mandate to take the far-leftist, anti-colonial position.
Israel is already on fire. This would be a step towards war, towards the rubble of Homs and Aleppo - not towards peace and justice. The war against Israel would be Obama's war.
The only irreversible action President Obama could take would be in the UN Security Council - admitting Palestine on 1948 borders, demanding immediate ethnic cleansing of Jews. But Donald Trump can prevent that with a phone call to Vladimir Putin - who would wield the Russian veto with a smile.
Barack Obama doesn't like to lose. So here's a suggestion: President Obama could propose a transition towards dual citizenship for West Bank Palestinians who want to become loyal to Israel and Palestine... and for Jewish settlers in Area C who want to respect the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
It worked for Barry Soetero and for 300,000 Americans in Israel.
To act as the former president recommends would be an abuse of power - using the People's office to pursue personal goals.
Lame-duck action by Barack Hussein Obama to try to restore Islamic sovereignty of Jerusalem would brand him forever as a secret jihadi.
He would prove Donald Trump was right about him.
It would be political suicide for President Obama. It would stick the Democratic party with another injury at a very bad time; there is no public opinion mandate to take the far-leftist, anti-colonial position.
Israel is already on fire. This would be a step towards war, towards the rubble of Homs and Aleppo - not towards peace and justice. The war against Israel would be Obama's war.
The only irreversible action President Obama could take would be in the UN Security Council - admitting Palestine on 1948 borders, demanding immediate ethnic cleansing of Jews. But Donald Trump can prevent that with a phone call to Vladimir Putin - who would wield the Russian veto with a smile.
Barack Obama doesn't like to lose. So here's a suggestion: President Obama could propose a transition towards dual citizenship for West Bank Palestinians who want to become loyal to Israel and Palestine... and for Jewish settlers in Area C who want to respect the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.
It worked for Barry Soetero and for 300,000 Americans in Israel.
1
Dear President Carter
Your recommandation should start with a full disclosure that your Carter Foundation received and perhaps still receives enormous donations from Arab States, among which some that support Islamic Fundamentalism.
Readers should also be reminded of your support of Hamas, against Congress and against the President of the United States, an organisation focused on the destruction of the State of Israel and listed as a terrorist organisation by many democracies, but not the UN. This is all well documented in serious media.
You had the honor and the chance to meet two extraordinary men in Anouar el Sadate and Menahem Begin. Good for you. Perhaps you should move on to other issues or just enjoy retirement.
Respectfully yours
Your recommandation should start with a full disclosure that your Carter Foundation received and perhaps still receives enormous donations from Arab States, among which some that support Islamic Fundamentalism.
Readers should also be reminded of your support of Hamas, against Congress and against the President of the United States, an organisation focused on the destruction of the State of Israel and listed as a terrorist organisation by many democracies, but not the UN. This is all well documented in serious media.
You had the honor and the chance to meet two extraordinary men in Anouar el Sadate and Menahem Begin. Good for you. Perhaps you should move on to other issues or just enjoy retirement.
Respectfully yours
7
Bless you, President Carter. You continue to be a beacon of decency, hope, and fairness. That the United States has turned the other way, has remained mute in the face of the Camp David Accords is deplorable. The same for Isreal.
3
Forget the fact the the article is not accurate - there aren't 600,000 settlers and they DON'T have the same rights as Israeli citizens within the "green line".
...Forget also that it doesn't mention ONCE a need for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
...Forget even about the fact that a "demilitarized" Palestinian state will almost certainly become a Hamas dictatorship that will shoot at Israel - which will respond...and, of course, be accused of "disproportional response" simply because not enough Israelis where killed to create what the world would consider a fair accounting.
Forget all this. This opinion is downright idiotic because of one simple inevitability:
The SECOND a Palestinian state is declared, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees will pour in - and with them, ISIS and the rest of murderous, maniacal radical Islamist groups and set a bloodshed for the ages. This kind of "we know what is good for you better than you" has set the entire Middle East ablaze and cost hundreds of thousands of lives already.
As unpalatable as it might in the ideal world, the status quo is the safest situation for both Israelis AND Palestinians.
It is easy to pass judgment from your peanut plantation, where you'll never have to live with the results of your pontificating advice. Where, when things go horribly wrong and both Arabs and Israelis pay with prodigious dissipation of their blood, you can just go "Ooops..." and go on to something else.
...Forget also that it doesn't mention ONCE a need for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
...Forget even about the fact that a "demilitarized" Palestinian state will almost certainly become a Hamas dictatorship that will shoot at Israel - which will respond...and, of course, be accused of "disproportional response" simply because not enough Israelis where killed to create what the world would consider a fair accounting.
Forget all this. This opinion is downright idiotic because of one simple inevitability:
The SECOND a Palestinian state is declared, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees will pour in - and with them, ISIS and the rest of murderous, maniacal radical Islamist groups and set a bloodshed for the ages. This kind of "we know what is good for you better than you" has set the entire Middle East ablaze and cost hundreds of thousands of lives already.
As unpalatable as it might in the ideal world, the status quo is the safest situation for both Israelis AND Palestinians.
It is easy to pass judgment from your peanut plantation, where you'll never have to live with the results of your pontificating advice. Where, when things go horribly wrong and both Arabs and Israelis pay with prodigious dissipation of their blood, you can just go "Ooops..." and go on to something else.
9
Thank you Mr. President for your enlightened comments. What a tragic irony that a people who suffered in ghettos have ghettoized Palestine in the manner they have - take a look at a map of the area delineating areas controlled by Palestine and you will see the purposeful fracturing of the Palestinian people. The US's lopsided relationship with the parties involved (Israel is the largest recipient of US military aid) and it's indifference to Israeli aggression (I'm not saying aggression doesn't go the other way too) does little to inspire confidence that the US will ever play a constructive role in a solution that, very unfortunately, is dead in the water.
2
Thank you for your engagement and insight Mr. President. May God bless you.
3
There is a reason that the few surviving 92 year olds are seldom involved in high level decision making. Carter was a well intentioned do-gooder for appeasement in the 1970's, and he remains so today. Carter has experienced the camaraderie of building cute houses with friendly people, and this is a good thing. His personal, positive and limited experience does not, however, represent an accurate interpretation of the sheer madness of Islamic (or any) religious fanaticism.
Only the Islamic religion can peacefully change its genocidal proclivities. Islam will apparently only peacefully change its murderous hatred if forced to do so. Christianity, especially Catholicism, has significantly reined in its violent theocratic delusions over the last couple of centuries, but not by choice. Islam can be prodded in this directions, but the mad Mullahs will never end their hatred of all life.
Only the Islamic religion can peacefully change its genocidal proclivities. Islam will apparently only peacefully change its murderous hatred if forced to do so. Christianity, especially Catholicism, has significantly reined in its violent theocratic delusions over the last couple of centuries, but not by choice. Islam can be prodded in this directions, but the mad Mullahs will never end their hatred of all life.
3
Though some would draw a distinction between 'occupied territory' and 'plunder of war' there truly is no distinction unless one's goal is never-ending conflict. Israel won it in battle ('no matter who started the war) and has the capacity (though not the political will) to give it back to the Palestinians. Those who oppose its return just have no vested interest in a two-State lasting peace and, for a variety of reasons, wish to continue to see conflict, death, & destruction continue to reign.
Former POTUS Carter: you ignore that the vast majority of Palestinians do NOT want a 2 state solution: they want to drive Israel into the sea. Many simply want to kill all the Jews. Ratifying Palestinians' as a nation would give succor to attitudes. There should be NO Palestinian nation until they agree to recognize Israel. PERIOD!
Further, it is clear that the Israeli gov't is far safer for Palestinians than the Pals provide for their own people. The criminal cultures in both Gaza and the West Bank are not safe democracies. Why would you recognize criminal cultures as a State? Why?
Sir, you seem to ignore that the Arafat with whom you worked deceived you and had zero intention of following through with the agreement to recognize Israel as per the Oslo accords.
In fact, a one-state solution is more peaceful with Israeli rule of the West Bank than the condition of Gaza. Sadly, there seems to be in place no process to teach young Palestinians not to waste their lives fomenting hatred. If the young Palestinians could progressively be taught secular multi-culturalism, over about 3-4 generations, the Palestinian culture would change and peace would emerge. Sir, please promote secularization of the Palestinians.
Further, it is clear that the Israeli gov't is far safer for Palestinians than the Pals provide for their own people. The criminal cultures in both Gaza and the West Bank are not safe democracies. Why would you recognize criminal cultures as a State? Why?
Sir, you seem to ignore that the Arafat with whom you worked deceived you and had zero intention of following through with the agreement to recognize Israel as per the Oslo accords.
In fact, a one-state solution is more peaceful with Israeli rule of the West Bank than the condition of Gaza. Sadly, there seems to be in place no process to teach young Palestinians not to waste their lives fomenting hatred. If the young Palestinians could progressively be taught secular multi-culturalism, over about 3-4 generations, the Palestinian culture would change and peace would emerge. Sir, please promote secularization of the Palestinians.
8
The spirit of Camp David was stopped dead in its tracks when HAMAS took over Gaza, destroyed the infrastructure that Israel had left for the Palestinians when they withdrew, and refused to accept Israel's right to exist within any borders. J
Mr. Carter's heart may be in the right place, but his head is not. What will happen to Christian Palestinians when their Muslim Brethren no longer have Jews to kick around? They will go the way of the Christian Population of Iraq and Syria. They will have all the rights that Christians have in Saudi Arabia (which is none). Israel is protecting its very right to exist. Until they can feel secure in their own land, don't expect them to keep giving miles when they are not even given inches.
Mr. Carter's heart may be in the right place, but his head is not. What will happen to Christian Palestinians when their Muslim Brethren no longer have Jews to kick around? They will go the way of the Christian Population of Iraq and Syria. They will have all the rights that Christians have in Saudi Arabia (which is none). Israel is protecting its very right to exist. Until they can feel secure in their own land, don't expect them to keep giving miles when they are not even given inches.
9
President Carter is absolutely right – one of the roots of the problems in the Middle East is the unsolved Palestinian problem. Netanyahu is not interested in peace and must therefore be forced to recognize Palestine as an independent state. After all, it is the US that has supported the Israel with billions of dollars and is thus responsible for the mistreatment of the Palestinians. Further postponement of peace will have devastating effects on the whole region and the blame would lie with Netanyahu and his right-wing government.
1
in the 1967 Six Days War Israel stood alone against Egypt, Jordan and Syria; not against any State of Palestine and her Arab residents or military.
Jimmy Carter is now confusing the peace accords signed with Egypt and Jordan, with the non existing peace accord with "Palestine" whose envisioned territory; an open "secret", includes all of present day Israel.
If one reads the peace accord with Jordan, there is not a single word about Palestinians, and the pre-amble clarifies further "Jordan is not Palestine".
Jimmy Carter is now confusing the peace accords signed with Egypt and Jordan, with the non existing peace accord with "Palestine" whose envisioned territory; an open "secret", includes all of present day Israel.
If one reads the peace accord with Jordan, there is not a single word about Palestinians, and the pre-amble clarifies further "Jordan is not Palestine".
7
U.S. leadership must including actual leading, as President Carter suggests. And his call to act before the new administration takes charge is exactly right.
4
Carter, the person who single handedly enabled Houmeini to take over Iran & exposed the world to nuclear & conventional terrorism, has neglected more than a few facts in his article.
He forgets that until 1967 "Palestine" was part of Jordan, that Jordan attacked Israel & tried to eiminate Israel as a state. He forgets that almost all PA leaders call for the physical elimination of Israel (from the river to the sea).
He forgets that several Israeli heads of govt offered Arafat 95% of everything he demanded. Arafat then demanded more. He forgets that Bibi suspended all Jewish construction in the West Bank for 10 months as per agreement & that the PA refused to sit with Israel (violating the agreement), then demanded another suspension. He forgets that the PA pays terrorists convicted of murdering Israelis. He forgets that terrorists released in exchange for a kidnapped soldier returned to terror & murdered more. He forgets that UNSC Resolution 242 calls for secure & recognized boundaries; it does NOT call for the '67 borders.
Carter forgets 10s of thousands of rockets Gaza fired into Israel & Hizboalla's 150,000 rockets in Lebanon & their intent to eliminate Israel. He forgets Hamas' charter calling for the destruction of Israel & Iran's declared intent to destroy Israel & the Jews. There is a pattern here Carter. He ignores 400,000 dead Syrians & millions of refugees & the island of quiet for Arabs & Jews, Israel. What is impt? To weaken Israel. That's important to Carter.
He forgets that until 1967 "Palestine" was part of Jordan, that Jordan attacked Israel & tried to eiminate Israel as a state. He forgets that almost all PA leaders call for the physical elimination of Israel (from the river to the sea).
He forgets that several Israeli heads of govt offered Arafat 95% of everything he demanded. Arafat then demanded more. He forgets that Bibi suspended all Jewish construction in the West Bank for 10 months as per agreement & that the PA refused to sit with Israel (violating the agreement), then demanded another suspension. He forgets that the PA pays terrorists convicted of murdering Israelis. He forgets that terrorists released in exchange for a kidnapped soldier returned to terror & murdered more. He forgets that UNSC Resolution 242 calls for secure & recognized boundaries; it does NOT call for the '67 borders.
Carter forgets 10s of thousands of rockets Gaza fired into Israel & Hizboalla's 150,000 rockets in Lebanon & their intent to eliminate Israel. He forgets Hamas' charter calling for the destruction of Israel & Iran's declared intent to destroy Israel & the Jews. There is a pattern here Carter. He ignores 400,000 dead Syrians & millions of refugees & the island of quiet for Arabs & Jews, Israel. What is impt? To weaken Israel. That's important to Carter.
8
Peace in the middle east is impossible. Rabin came close and then was assassinated. Netanyahu does not want peace nor does Hezbollah or Hamas. A 2 state solution is impossible. Netanyahu is opting for a one state solution. I asked some of my Jewish friends how they feel about that since they are killing innocent Palestinians. They said that nobody let the Jews in from the boats after the second world war. Whatever Netanyahu feels is necessary to secure the existence of Jewish Homeland in Israel is okay with them. So sad that the Jews, once victims, have become the criminals because in the world we've got, might makes right - I don't like reality -- but there will never be a 2 state solution that satisfies both the Jews and the Arabs and everyone else living in the middle east.
1
Show me your friends and I'll tell you who you are. Your friends in no way speak for the Jewish people who want the Palestinians to have a good life. How dare you declare that this is Payback for Jewish refugees being turned away.
1
I remember when Jimmy Carter was president. Then I remembered him as the man who built houses for the poor. Now I wish we had more world leaders like him. Wise man; a good man; a real man.
2
Israel is the only sane country in the Middle East. We can't toss another log on the fire by recognizing a terrorist organization.
7
70 years of Jewish-Arab conflict - 30 000 killed. 5 years of arab-arab conflict - 300 000 killed. The numbers say it all.
6
Still looking for the emergence of a
Palestinian Ghandi
Palestinian Ghandi
6
President Obama, take heed of these wise words. Imagine what Trump's Jewish son-in-law might do. Fill your boots, Mr. President.
Zionist have worn out their welcome in the world because they have destroyed rather than created peace. They are employing age-old propaganda trickery by blaming their victims for the state of war that exists between the Zionists and Palestinians.
The State of Israel should not exist and never should have existed. It's very existence is a threat to world peace and has been since day one.
The world must come to the aid of the Palestinian people and restore their stolen lands to them. Then the world must shun the Zionists for their war crimes perpetrated against Palestinians.
I am vehemently opposed to supporting the State of Israel with American taxpayer's dollars. The constant infusion of billions of American dollars causes more harm to the Palestinians than any good it might do for the State of Israel. Anything that the United States does to enable the existence of the State of Israel runs counter productive to the best interests of Americans and to the stability of the middle east.
The State of Israel should not exist and never should have existed. It's very existence is a threat to world peace and has been since day one.
The world must come to the aid of the Palestinian people and restore their stolen lands to them. Then the world must shun the Zionists for their war crimes perpetrated against Palestinians.
I am vehemently opposed to supporting the State of Israel with American taxpayer's dollars. The constant infusion of billions of American dollars causes more harm to the Palestinians than any good it might do for the State of Israel. Anything that the United States does to enable the existence of the State of Israel runs counter productive to the best interests of Americans and to the stability of the middle east.
Does Jimmy Carter believe that the "inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war" is valid? Because the US still possesses territory in the Pacific and Germany acquired in WW2. Does he believe that the Arab hordes who acquired Jerusalem by war in the 7th century do not have any right to it? That would defeat his Palestinian Purpose. Or is ex-POTUS Carter grandstanding once more?
The only valid solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is: The Palestinians turn their swords into plowshares and cease their killing. Every rocket Hamas or the PA fires into Israel, every Israeli soldier kidnapped, could have funded schools and businesses instead. But because the core of the Palestinians want every Jew dead, such is not to be.
Jimmy Carter at 92 years old is living in a fantasy.
The only valid solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is: The Palestinians turn their swords into plowshares and cease their killing. Every rocket Hamas or the PA fires into Israel, every Israeli soldier kidnapped, could have funded schools and businesses instead. But because the core of the Palestinians want every Jew dead, such is not to be.
Jimmy Carter at 92 years old is living in a fantasy.
9
Why doesn't Carter simply cut to the chase by simply stating that every crisis in the Middle East would automatically be solved if only Palestine replaced Israel? Carter isn't fooling anyone with his idealistic opus pleading for America to instantly recognize a Palestinian state that will never come to into existence. Besides it's the Palestinians who keep rejecting this two state solution that's constantly being shoved down their throats. The Palestinians won't be satisfied until Israel is no more and the Jews are thrown into the sea. It comes as no surprise that Carter is blind, deaf and dumb when it comes to the Palestinian stabbing spree of innocent Jews all over Israel during the past year or the current wave of arson in major Israeli cities. These terrorist attacks have nothing to do with creating a Palestinian utopia--Palestinians will do whatever it takes to inflict pain and misery on the Jews. It's as simple as that.
7
Pres Obama disappointed many by not helping Palestine. He missed a great opportunity to show why he won the Nobel Peace Prize.
2
President Carter, the voice of antiquity resounds within your passionate plea, yet your lack of careful understanding of historical facts and legal statements that you so eloquently quote, promotes you to declare a pragmatically impossible solution. An example of our statement can be seen in your misunderstanding of simple language. "Recent Conflict" does not refer to 1967 Six Day war but rather to the 1973 Yom Kippur war during which the autocratic rulers of several Arab nations utilized the holiest day in the Jewish calendar to attempt to destroy the Jewish state and drive its citizens into the sea.
Pragmatic solutions to issues entail an understanding of the past but also the incorporation an analysis of current facts that influence the proposed solution. An unbiased review of the facts will point to the unlikely success of your proposal both from a short or long term perspective. A simple review of the comments to your Op-Ed demonstrates that the facts on the ground have changed.
President Carter, with all due respect, your 1978 accomplishment was monumental but your insistence that the same model can be achieved by a unilateral action by our current president is obtuse.
Pragmatic solutions to issues entail an understanding of the past but also the incorporation an analysis of current facts that influence the proposed solution. An unbiased review of the facts will point to the unlikely success of your proposal both from a short or long term perspective. A simple review of the comments to your Op-Ed demonstrates that the facts on the ground have changed.
President Carter, with all due respect, your 1978 accomplishment was monumental but your insistence that the same model can be achieved by a unilateral action by our current president is obtuse.
5
Noble and great ideas. However: will the part of "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war " apply to: Texas, California, Western part of Poland (previously Germany, acquired in 1945), western parts of Lithuania and Ukraine (previously part of Poland), etc., etc.?
3
Resolution 242 clearly states that Israel should withdraw from territories, not THE territories, taken during the 1967 war. And it adds that the final borders should be determined during DIRECT negotiations between the parties.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he is ready to start direct negotiations at any time and at any place, without any preconditions. But Abu Mazen has refused and continues to refuse to come the negotiating table without preconditions.
And, keep in mind that Hamas who rules in Gaza, has refused to accept the two states solution, claiming all the land, between the sea and the river.
Netanyahu has repeatedly said that he is ready to start direct negotiations at any time and at any place, without any preconditions. But Abu Mazen has refused and continues to refuse to come the negotiating table without preconditions.
And, keep in mind that Hamas who rules in Gaza, has refused to accept the two states solution, claiming all the land, between the sea and the river.
8
Tikun olam. Enough is enough. This is not why we are given such a beautiful Earth. What would it take for Israel to go the harder path? Build a strong education and health infrastructure for their cousins. Tikun olam. Enough is enough. This is not why we are given such a beautiful Earth. Without those two critical ingredients we will never see the leadership everyone is asking for to emerge from the Palestinians. I'm not saying they are ignorant backwater fools either. But let's be realistic, from spite and ignorance, hate and bloody vengeance easily spawns.
Go ahead and call me idealistic, Eeyore.
Go ahead and call me idealistic, Eeyore.
Is it the same Jimmy Carter who signed agreement with North Korea to stop their nuclear program? mmm... and now they have more than a dozen A-bombs targeting the entire Southeast Asia and our bases in the region?
3
Palestine wants war, not peace. America must not recognize Palestine until Palestine recognizes Israel, and stops murdering Israelis. There is no similarity between the Sinai accord and the Palestinian issue - Egypt is a sovereign state whereas, Palestine is not. For the past 50 years, the Palestinian leadership has taken the billions of dollars it has received and stashed it offshore in personal bank accounts or used it to build cement underground tunnels and bombs. While Israel converted its land to fertile fields and technical cities - the Palestinian leadership has intentionally kept people in shacks hoping to get people like Carter all worked up. The Palestinians do nothing to improve their conditions. They have no desire to make peace - their desire is only to build bombs. They hate Israel more than they love themselves and their families. They want war, not peace.
7
1) There is not enough land in tiny sliver of what is "Greater" Israel to carve an Arab state.
2) If one tried to go back to nine-mile-wide "Auschwitz" borders, Israeli aircraft would be in range of shoulder-mounted weapons.
3) There are already 22 Arab countries and 57 Muslim states. Why need for another when others are failing, exporting terror, and torn by civil war?
4) There never was a Palestinian people. They are generic Arabs. What was their anthem, flag, or currency?
5) In 1964, when Arabs (Jordan) controlled the West Bank, PLO was formed to liberate "Palestine". If Palestinians were a separate people, wouldn't they have been targeting Jordan, not Israel? What you see is A) Palestinians never considered themselves separate from other Arabs. B) West Bank will not satisfy them. C) Won't accept Israel's existence, period.
6) This is a religious conflict that stems from Muslim belief that Islam must control all land which they conquered in the past.
7) Conquering land is fine and legitimate, so long as it is done by Muslims. That is how Islam spread worldwide.
8) When Israel reconquers Jerusalem that was indisputably part of historical Jewish state long before Islam existed, world is somehow upended.
9) Novel solution: 3 great religions, 3 holy cities. Rome to Christians, Mecca to Muslims, Jerusalem to Jews.
10) Under Israeli control, all religions have freedom of worship at their holy sites. Not case before 1967, when Arabs banned Jews from Western Wall.
2) If one tried to go back to nine-mile-wide "Auschwitz" borders, Israeli aircraft would be in range of shoulder-mounted weapons.
3) There are already 22 Arab countries and 57 Muslim states. Why need for another when others are failing, exporting terror, and torn by civil war?
4) There never was a Palestinian people. They are generic Arabs. What was their anthem, flag, or currency?
5) In 1964, when Arabs (Jordan) controlled the West Bank, PLO was formed to liberate "Palestine". If Palestinians were a separate people, wouldn't they have been targeting Jordan, not Israel? What you see is A) Palestinians never considered themselves separate from other Arabs. B) West Bank will not satisfy them. C) Won't accept Israel's existence, period.
6) This is a religious conflict that stems from Muslim belief that Islam must control all land which they conquered in the past.
7) Conquering land is fine and legitimate, so long as it is done by Muslims. That is how Islam spread worldwide.
8) When Israel reconquers Jerusalem that was indisputably part of historical Jewish state long before Islam existed, world is somehow upended.
9) Novel solution: 3 great religions, 3 holy cities. Rome to Christians, Mecca to Muslims, Jerusalem to Jews.
10) Under Israeli control, all religions have freedom of worship at their holy sites. Not case before 1967, when Arabs banned Jews from Western Wall.
11
Mr. Obama's errors in foreign policy are only second to those of Mr. Carter's. Mr. President don't listen to this misguided advice unless you strive to be number one.
4
Thanks for the plan President Carter! Oh wait... Israel already offered 97% of this twice, but the other side walked away. This plan can work –– in an alternative universe where: 1) Hamas ends its goal of eliminating Israel; 2) there's a Palestinian leader who represents everyone -- PLO and Hamas; 3) Arab countries (and their mosques, teachers, textbooks) proclaim Israel's right to exist securely.
8
The Palestinians had their chance in 2000. We see what they did with it. Sorry, no do overs in real life. Thank you, Mr Arafat. Worst leader of a people. Ever.
7
Dear President Carter,
The extremist Israeli lobby is simply too strong. AIPAC has bribed or coerced everyone into ignoring their war of attrition. Congressmen and Senators of both parties believe "Israel can do no wrong". The military-industrial complex's existence depends on stoking wars everywhere, especially in its Middle East training ground.
The revisionist propaganda is deafening: Pinprick katyusha rocket launches from Palestine are greeted with horror by the media and mass reprisals by Israel, while serious Israeli war crimes and rampant use of WMD (including cluster bombs, uranium shells and white phosphorous) on civilian populations are shrugged off as legitimate responses to a so-called 'existential threats'.
President Carter, please attack the disease and not its symptoms.
The extremist Israeli lobby is simply too strong. AIPAC has bribed or coerced everyone into ignoring their war of attrition. Congressmen and Senators of both parties believe "Israel can do no wrong". The military-industrial complex's existence depends on stoking wars everywhere, especially in its Middle East training ground.
The revisionist propaganda is deafening: Pinprick katyusha rocket launches from Palestine are greeted with horror by the media and mass reprisals by Israel, while serious Israeli war crimes and rampant use of WMD (including cluster bombs, uranium shells and white phosphorous) on civilian populations are shrugged off as legitimate responses to a so-called 'existential threats'.
President Carter, please attack the disease and not its symptoms.
1
The uncomfortable elephant in the American room is this: our full throttled support of Israel is directly due to the power of the Israel lobby (specifically AIPAC) and the fact that some of the most biggest donors to both parties are vehemently pro-Israel.
Just a couple examples...
Haim Saban -- the biggest contributor to the Democratic Party by far - is quoted as saying "I'm a one issue guy. And my issue is Israel".
Sheldon Adelson -- the biggest contributor to the Republican Party and its candidates -- is quoted as saying "So Israel won't be a democratic state. So what?" and “I am not Israeli. The uniform that I wore in the military, unfortunately, was not an Israeli uniform. It was an American uniform."
Steve Rosen (former head of AIPAC) - New Yorker article - July, 2005 issue - “You see this napkin?” he said. “In twenty-four hours, we could have the signatures of seventy senators on this napkin.”
It is ludicrous to suggest that big money donors and powerful lobbying groups do not influence our policy on Israel And I'm so tired of people calling anyone who points this out an anti-semite. It's not anti-semetis. It's responsible citizenship.
Just a couple examples...
Haim Saban -- the biggest contributor to the Democratic Party by far - is quoted as saying "I'm a one issue guy. And my issue is Israel".
Sheldon Adelson -- the biggest contributor to the Republican Party and its candidates -- is quoted as saying "So Israel won't be a democratic state. So what?" and “I am not Israeli. The uniform that I wore in the military, unfortunately, was not an Israeli uniform. It was an American uniform."
Steve Rosen (former head of AIPAC) - New Yorker article - July, 2005 issue - “You see this napkin?” he said. “In twenty-four hours, we could have the signatures of seventy senators on this napkin.”
It is ludicrous to suggest that big money donors and powerful lobbying groups do not influence our policy on Israel And I'm so tired of people calling anyone who points this out an anti-semite. It's not anti-semetis. It's responsible citizenship.
2
I spoke with a few "Palestinian" engineers recently and none of them wanted to live in a Palestinian state. They prefer to be part of Israeli stability and prosperity rather then the mayhem around them.
The term "Palestinian" came to denote West Bank and Gaza Arabs after Yasser Arafat created the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) in 1964 and the 1967 6 day war when Israel conquered the west bank and Gaza.
The Roman conquerors renamed the land after the long extinct biblical Philistines in 170 AD. Before the creation of Israel in 1948 both Arab and Jewish residents were "Palestinians".
The term has since been promoted and hyped by all of the Arab countries. The reason is simple. If we call them levantine Arabs (what they are culturally) then it exposes the fact that they are not a unique people historically indigenous to that land. They are unique in one sense. Their DNA has a high percentage of Jewish markers. Many of their ancestors converted due to severe Moslem oppression during Arab rule. Many "Palestinians" are descendants of recent immigrants from surrounding Arab countries who came to take part of and expanding economy and better health care after Jews started returning to the land in the 1890s. Mark Twain, when he traveled through the land called it desolate and under populated. Even the Koran refers to Israel as the land of the Jews. It is time to dispel the myth of a "Palestinian" people created and fostered by Moslem propaganda.
The term "Palestinian" came to denote West Bank and Gaza Arabs after Yasser Arafat created the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) in 1964 and the 1967 6 day war when Israel conquered the west bank and Gaza.
The Roman conquerors renamed the land after the long extinct biblical Philistines in 170 AD. Before the creation of Israel in 1948 both Arab and Jewish residents were "Palestinians".
The term has since been promoted and hyped by all of the Arab countries. The reason is simple. If we call them levantine Arabs (what they are culturally) then it exposes the fact that they are not a unique people historically indigenous to that land. They are unique in one sense. Their DNA has a high percentage of Jewish markers. Many of their ancestors converted due to severe Moslem oppression during Arab rule. Many "Palestinians" are descendants of recent immigrants from surrounding Arab countries who came to take part of and expanding economy and better health care after Jews started returning to the land in the 1890s. Mark Twain, when he traveled through the land called it desolate and under populated. Even the Koran refers to Israel as the land of the Jews. It is time to dispel the myth of a "Palestinian" people created and fostered by Moslem propaganda.
9
Since before the founding of the State of Israel the organizing principle of local Arab resistance to the founding of, and continuing existence of, the State of Israel has been very simple: NO RIGHTS to Jews anywhere in the land; destruction of the State of Israel; usually, murder of all of the Jews in the land. Jimmy Carter has done enough damage in his life and should be ashamed of himself; this essay alone is enough to discredit him.
8
I applaud both President Carter's integrity & tenacity. However, the problem of occupation within the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for 50 years - as i'd start the countdown from June 1967 myself. Nothing substative has happened since then - including during President Obama's two terms - because the political will & courage for peacemaking have been lacking on all sides. So what will change in the next 7 weeks?
I pray to be wrong.
I pray to be wrong.
Ok, Jimmy...who should we make peace with? The PLO? Hamas? Fatah? Abbas? Dahlan? Shouldn't they figure out who they are and who is the uniting leaders first? If they hate each other, can't make peace with themselves and have each ripped off their own people to the tune of billions, how are we supposed to make anything that even approaches Peace? And please, pray G!D, define the word 'Peace.' I have yet to see even any agreement about the definition of peace even amongst people on the same side!
65
Thank you Rabbi Geller for speaking the truth. I am very discouraged after reading this article and replies. Why are people not facing up to the fact that since Israel was established they have not been safe because of the constant threats that Israel needs to be wiped off the map!!!!
3
But will "Palestine" recognize Israel? And even if it is demilitarized, as Mr. Carter smartly acknowledges must be necessary, then what guarantees are there that militants won't overthrow the "Palestinian" government and create another terror state like the one that the Palestinians voted for in Gaza when they bequeathed Gaza to Hamas?
8
I admire and respect Jimmy Carter. Reading the cynical, defeatist, and bigoted responses to this essay I suspect I'm the ony one who does ...
The attempt to draw conclusion from the Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement to the "2 states solution" for the Israeli-Palestinian problem is wrong, there is no similarity and no relations. The "2 states solution" is a dream forced by dreamers who are detached from reality. There can be other solutions that will give Palestinians self rule and continue the Israeli Democracy. At this moment in history and after the Obama administration "helped" to create the mess in the Middle East the worth mistake by the outgoing administration will be to recognize "Palestine". Which Palestine is Mr. Carter talking about? and why does not the former president ask that one of those Palestine recognize the Jewish state? The peace with Egypt was between 2 states, with who does Israel negotiates on the proposed "Palestine" ? The Palestinian problem should be settled among Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon not at the UN and Mr. Carter really believes that this is the right time to do it or perhaps he still believes that solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will bring peace to the Middle-East.
5
I don't believe Carter believes Palestine would mean peace in the Middle East....he Must be more clever than that! I do believe he's just still exercising his God given right to be his true anti Semitic self.
1
Let's give it another month or two and then just shelve the two-state solution, and instead adjust to the reality of a permanent one state solution, for Jews, Christians, Muslims and all other faiths to live together.
With one state there need not be continuous disagreements and violence over settlements and borders. Israel can study how the U.S., South Africa and Northern Ireland found relative peace and harmony for their diverse populations and use this knowledge to chart a path forward.
With one state there need not be continuous disagreements and violence over settlements and borders. Israel can study how the U.S., South Africa and Northern Ireland found relative peace and harmony for their diverse populations and use this knowledge to chart a path forward.
Jimmy Carter comes across as completely tone-deaf. Was this piece written before the recent horrible fires in Israel believed due in part to Arab arson? He is motivated by sincere faith and sincere good will, but is incredibly naive. In all this time, where have the peacemakers been in the Arab camp? When they had a chance, did they make peace? Did not Jordan, who governed the West Bank, and Egypt, who governed Gaza, attack Israel in 1967, and who were then defeated? Isn't that how jurisdiction over the West Bank and Gaza was lost by them? Did they not attack again in 1973? Was not Sadat assassinated by his own people for joining Mr. Carter's efforts? Did he mention that? Where are the peacemakers on the Arab side? Israel's population of 8 million contains 1.4 million Arabs. They are entirely free, can vote, have representatives in the Knesset, serve in the IDF. The West Bank's population of about 3 million contains 0.6 million Jews. Why is that not OK? Why are Jews delegitimized by the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, nearly every Arab government, and by Jimmy Carter? Why doesn't Carter ever talk about the anti-Jewish hate indoctrination officially sanctioned, funded and supported by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas? He comes across as stubborn and obstinate, and the unfortunate timing of his piece possibly may only fan the flames and bring harm to people, not help.
7
Mr. Carter has routinely attacked Israel and has even gone so far as to convey false facts regarding United Nations' critical documents.
Carter often says that UN Resolution 242 called for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories taken by Israel in the Six Day War which transpired after Nasser, Egypt's leader, threatened to push all the Jews into the Sea. However, Carter read the document as it was written in French and Russian, contending that Israel should "withdraw from the occupied territories." However, the verbiage was different in English & Hebrew, which stated that Israel should "withdraw from occupied territories. The version in English and Hebrew implies that some of those territories can be retained by Israel. (Actually, the divisions were so pronounced that an historian can say that the UN produced two different versions of UN Resolution 242.)
Carter leaves so much out of his analysis: Israel left Gaza in a gesture of peace, and the Arabs retaliated by turning the land into a launching pad for rockets aimed at Israel. Israel exited land south of the Litani River, and that was soon filled up with thousands of missiles that rained down on Gallile. Israel's land mass is less than one quarter of a percent of the land mass of the 20 plus Arab states in the region. They are nearly unanimous in their dream of annihilating the Jewish people.
If Israel ceded the West Bank to Arabs, she would be ten miles thick and subject to swift destruction.
Carter often says that UN Resolution 242 called for Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories taken by Israel in the Six Day War which transpired after Nasser, Egypt's leader, threatened to push all the Jews into the Sea. However, Carter read the document as it was written in French and Russian, contending that Israel should "withdraw from the occupied territories." However, the verbiage was different in English & Hebrew, which stated that Israel should "withdraw from occupied territories. The version in English and Hebrew implies that some of those territories can be retained by Israel. (Actually, the divisions were so pronounced that an historian can say that the UN produced two different versions of UN Resolution 242.)
Carter leaves so much out of his analysis: Israel left Gaza in a gesture of peace, and the Arabs retaliated by turning the land into a launching pad for rockets aimed at Israel. Israel exited land south of the Litani River, and that was soon filled up with thousands of missiles that rained down on Gallile. Israel's land mass is less than one quarter of a percent of the land mass of the 20 plus Arab states in the region. They are nearly unanimous in their dream of annihilating the Jewish people.
If Israel ceded the West Bank to Arabs, she would be ten miles thick and subject to swift destruction.
7
The USA does not recognize terrorist states. Palestine falls in that category.
7
Why do people continue to a man who was such a poor president? When did he get all this wisdom, after he left office?
1
Recognizing a nonexistent Palestinian state would more likely result in war than peace.
Jimmy Carter's obsession with this issue should be recognized for what it is: nothing more than self-aggrandizement.
He is irrelevant. The Carter Center is irrelevant.
The proposal is a dangerous delusion that should be ignored.
Jimmy Carter's obsession with this issue should be recognized for what it is: nothing more than self-aggrandizement.
He is irrelevant. The Carter Center is irrelevant.
The proposal is a dangerous delusion that should be ignored.
6
Cater writes as if he's objective here. He's about as objective as the UN. Why didn't he mention that the Palestinians refused to enter negotiations during that 9 month imposed settlement freeze. War is bad, that's true. The 67 war was an attack of several Arab countries on israel with the objective of destruction. Just saying land shouldn't transfer via war isn't enough. The world "sending a message of recognition" isn't quite enough. Where was the world between 1948-1967 before the land excuse? Sadat wanted peace and that led to the treaty. Cater gets credit for hosting the talks; it probably saved a lot in hotel bills. The Arab countries stopped supporting the Palestinians probably after realizing they aren't interested in taking their destiny into their own hands. The Americans did the same by realizing that Carter's election was just a protest to the corruption of the Nixon error. Carter's legacy is perhaps enabling the fall of Iran, but I never understand why after so many years he behaves as if he's some elder statesman. At least Bush the elder is quiet.
Bush
Bush
6
The Palestinian government has never recognized the right of Israel to exist. In all their material on line the map of Palestine is ALL of Israel. The Palestinian government does not want a @ state solution but a ONE state of Palestine. And when is the last time the PA had an election? I totally disagree with Carter. True peace can only happen when both parties want to make peace. Israel has extended her hand over and over again to the Palestinians to no avail. To force this issue from the outside is not the solution.
8
Thank G-D we still have President Jimmy Carter around. Sure helps!!
1
4.5 million under official discrimination cannot be sustained. A calamity awaits.
With respect it would be the very epitome of folly to proclaim recognition of a sovereign nation when the strongest 'government' is a terrorist organization that leads by calling for knife, bomb and arson murder. Is it the case that anyone feels that a written agreement of any sort with the current so called 'leaders' of the Palestinian people will alter the reality on the ground? Is Mr. Obama's 'legacy' to be an empty and meaningless gesture doomed to fail while the ink is still wet on the paper? The entire United Nations may agree on a peace deal, but unless the Israelis and Palestinians can actually live in peace with one another it is not going to happen. The crux of the matter is that peace cannot be legislated from without, no matter how good the intention.
3
Apparently the fact that Hamas has vowed to murder every Jew in Israel is a non-issue for Mr. Carter.
9
Israel will never agree to a Palestinian state and the farcical peace talks for 50 years are just a stalling tactic. We need a one-state solution, with Israel absorbing the occupied territories, and the Palestinians given the right to vote under the slogan "Democracy for Israel"!
Let's us hear first from ANY representative of the Palestinians that they recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people, as was officially stated in the UN resolution 181 of the UN general assembly of 1947 (One Jewish state, one Arab state).
Up to this time Abbas was not willing to concede this, and Hamas is not willing to recognize Israel at all.
As for the mantra of the settlements I read here, Israel has withdrawn from all the settlements of the Gaza strip and received a barrage of missiles in return. So the west-bank settlements are not the issue for the palestinians. Indeed, if one talks to ordinary palestinians on the street, which Cater never did, one would hear exactly what they want: All the land of Israel, which they call Palestine! So please, wake up to reality Mr. Carter.
Up to this time Abbas was not willing to concede this, and Hamas is not willing to recognize Israel at all.
As for the mantra of the settlements I read here, Israel has withdrawn from all the settlements of the Gaza strip and received a barrage of missiles in return. So the west-bank settlements are not the issue for the palestinians. Indeed, if one talks to ordinary palestinians on the street, which Cater never did, one would hear exactly what they want: All the land of Israel, which they call Palestine! So please, wake up to reality Mr. Carter.
5
Thank you, Mr. Carter, for your recommendation, and for being a peacemaker in this troubled world. As someone who has spent the last 38 years thinking about the problem, you deserve to have your voice heard, and heeded.
2
I have lived in Israel for the past 24 years - through the peace process, the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin (I was at the peace rally the night he was assassinated), suicide bombings, the Camp David talks and more. I yearn for peace, for justice and for co-existence. But I am also a realist and know how far apart the sides are and what is happening in the Arab world so close to us (wars in Syria and Yemen, the breakdown of the post WWI order, the rise of ISIS). Peace cannot be imposed from the outside. And yes, Netanyahu and the settlers are partly to blame. But only partly. Carter (and some American liberals) place too much blame on the Israeli side and have a tendency to view the Palestinians only as victims. The intervention of the U.N. with American support will not result in peace. I understand that Carter wants to see peace here before he dies. and I would be more than overjoyed to see two states living side by side in peace, but Carter's plan is not the way to get there and could even result in more war and violence
6
Carter wants Obama to make a last and worst move? To let such a resolution through (non-veto) would cause some kind of destroyment, as the country then would go against God. Nothing is more sure.
Recognize "Palestine"? Never as long as they do not recognize the right of Israel to exist as a national home for the Jewish people and while the Islamists declare it to be part of their Waqf. Carter in his latter days has become a dangerous fool who as an ex-President does not accept that it is not his role to interfere with US government policy. Not surprising that the collective wisdom of the American electorate voted him out of office.
3
Oh President Carter I'm afraid your rational, well thought through advice is DOA in today's post-truth political "culture", but thanks for being a consistent voice and actor for peace where possible, through the decades.
I can truly believe you have the human's interest at heart, and no other. I only wish it hadn't been siloed into a L or R or G issue, always us against one another.
Blessed are the Peacemakers.
I can truly believe you have the human's interest at heart, and no other. I only wish it hadn't been siloed into a L or R or G issue, always us against one another.
Blessed are the Peacemakers.
Former President Carter, when I voted for you I was an idealistic 30 year old hoping for peace in the Middle
East. Now I am a realistic, older American who thinks I will die before the Middle East is at peace. Until the majority of Palestinians and Israelis want to live in peace these two cultures are going to continue to fight over that strip of land. Such a waste but these are stubborn people who have not yet learned that life matters more than real estate. Thank you for being a very decent person. I have great respect for your work and your continued efforts to improve the lives of others.
East. Now I am a realistic, older American who thinks I will die before the Middle East is at peace. Until the majority of Palestinians and Israelis want to live in peace these two cultures are going to continue to fight over that strip of land. Such a waste but these are stubborn people who have not yet learned that life matters more than real estate. Thank you for being a very decent person. I have great respect for your work and your continued efforts to improve the lives of others.
4
Israel will not allow a Palestinian state and has never really wanted one. Zionists have lied and cheated from the beginning and nothing will change.
I "enjoy" all the comments about Palestinians needing to acknowledge Israel's right to exist.
Israelis have never acknowledged Palestine's right to exist, ever, from the moment the U.S. established Palestine and Israel.
Israelis and Zionists have always pretended they "want a two-way street," when all they've ever desired is a one-way street.
Israelis have never acknowledged Palestine's right to exist, ever, from the moment the U.S. established Palestine and Israel.
Israelis and Zionists have always pretended they "want a two-way street," when all they've ever desired is a one-way street.
1
Thank you, President Carter, for your honesty, your courage, your humanity, and your patriotism.
2
Honesty? Courage? Really?
1
Let's see, another stable independant arab state in the middle east to join the list of other stable states.... Libiya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Lebanon. And this would be a state on the high ground overlooking Israel's airport and major population center. The Palestinian's have had decades to build stable democrattic instittioins with sepertation of powers, and stable tranfer of powers and have not done so. Giving them an independant state prior to these steps would be foolish.
5
I do not favor Israel's expansion. But I have severe misgivings about the U.S. recognizing a Palestinian state and thus tilting the scales. The U.S. should adopt a complete hands-off policy. We not only cannot solve every problem in the world, we should, first of all, stop causing them.
2
Bravo, President Carter. Long live. You are a true statesman.
1
At a time when the voice of a former president might be needed to save this country from Fascism, THIS is what President Carter finds worthy of his attention? You join Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama in a club of high-profile Democrats who are abdicating their resposibility.
2
This piece would be better if it came after Trump is inaugurated. Obama should not meddle in foreign affairs at this point without the concurrence of Trump.
2
Mr. Carter throws around concepts which do not exist in the reality of the Israel-Arab conflict. First, the "1967 borders" were hardly borders at all. They actually were cease fire lines left over from the 1948-1949 war of Israel's independence. This brings us to the next fallacy. That 1948 war followed the United Nations partitioning Palestine, as the area then was known. What action did the international community take to protect the new State of Israel it had created? Where was the UN? How about the United States? We not only did nothing but we criminalized any efforts to provide material help to Israel. Israel, essentially, was set up to be destroyed. Does anyone think Israelis have forgotten this? And all of this happened only three years after the Holocaust. Why should anyone in Israel believe in "security" assurances from the international community? I have no doubt that Mr. Carter has a desire for peace. But he continues to fail to grasp the realities of this situation.
7
Nothing less than a secular, non-sexist, non-racist unitary democracy in which #equalrights4all is enshrined in the Constitution.
1
The population within those territories who are not citizens of Israel have demonstrated time and again they are not mature enough politically to govern themselves responsibly, and far too many of them do not respect their israeli, more specifically their Jewish neighbors, who want live in harmony and preserve a mutually constructive coexistence. The Jews have succeeded in building, and continue to develop a thriving and progressive, multicultural nation, Israel. They have no wish to maintain by means of a military administration authority over others. It is however an indisputable fact that the administration in Ramallah and the majority of Arabs who live in the territories are unwilling to respect the right of Israelis to continue to develop their nation without having to worry about terrorism or war coming from outside their borders. Many of the comments to this yet additional wishful article by Jimmy Carter, have more in mind than only seeing another independent state adjacent to Israel. They fool no one other than themselves, certainly not people who know firsthand the facts about the region. Jimmy Carter, and most of those who have commented to his ideas , have never lived in the region wherein resides his lifelong pet interest - a Palestinian state- and just like Mr. Carter, they have no "skin in the game ". They would lose nothing, because they have nothing of actual value invested, should his wish ever be actualized prematurely.
7
Can President Carter be this ignorant? Ask the Palestinians if they would accept a 'Jewish' Israel. The answer is an emphatic NO. Palestinian 'president' Mahmoud Abbas said he will 'go to his grave' without ever accepting Israel as the Jewish state. President Carter wants Israel to honor UN 242. The Palestinians have never accepted the 1947 UN Patition Plan, ever. So what is there to talk about?
5
Given what we know and see on a daily basis, I find President Carter's wish most unappetizing, even unsafe.
Who believes that the Palestinians are capable of peace?
Who believes that Israel does not need more land and more good citizens to assure its longevity?
Who favors the nations that have pledged Israel's destruction - need more land?
Who believes that President Carter's leadership in the mideast was helpful on a long term basis?
Who wants to see Israel more exposed rather than less exposed?
Who trusts the Palestinians or the other enemies of the state of Israel...
Who believes that the Palestinians are capable of peace?
Who believes that Israel does not need more land and more good citizens to assure its longevity?
Who favors the nations that have pledged Israel's destruction - need more land?
Who believes that President Carter's leadership in the mideast was helpful on a long term basis?
Who wants to see Israel more exposed rather than less exposed?
Who trusts the Palestinians or the other enemies of the state of Israel...
5
Unfortunately, until the Palestinian people replace corrupt Palestinian leaders there will never be peace.
Until Palestinians stop brainwashing their school children to hate Jews, there will never be peace.
Until they stop building underground tunnels to use for terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, there will never be peace.
Until Palestinians stop celebrating and naming streets after young men who die as suicide bombers, there will never be peace.
What did the Palestinians do with the land in Gaza that Israel returned? Is it flourishing?
Land for peace has not worked.
Recognizing Palestine as a nation, will not bring about peace.
Until Palestinians stop brainwashing their school children to hate Jews, there will never be peace.
Until they stop building underground tunnels to use for terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, there will never be peace.
Until Palestinians stop celebrating and naming streets after young men who die as suicide bombers, there will never be peace.
What did the Palestinians do with the land in Gaza that Israel returned? Is it flourishing?
Land for peace has not worked.
Recognizing Palestine as a nation, will not bring about peace.
7
So just what are we recognizing? I see no opportunity for a diplomatic resolution of the Palestinian issue until Palestinians have a united government for the US to recognize. Who are we going to talk with? Abbas's people? Hamas' people? Or do we construct a puppet government with which we can negotiate?
3
President Carter, you are a great man and history will tell this l hope, as you know sir, America is friend with Israel and not with Palestine , why because western world does not like muslims and we care less today in Iraq and Syria thousand of people are dying and no body doing any thing, we just give Israel billions of dollars millitary aid so they will kill more arabs, this is the truth and sir l now that you know this, president elect Trump will see that Muslims will go to the camps an die there
This editorial is a thinly-veiled attempt to interfere with the foreign policy of the Trump administration and to have a lame duck president unilaterally impose a one-sided, anti-Israeli solution on the parties. The Israelis will never accept this unilateral move and neither will the Trump administration. Carter, as a former president, should be condemned for attempting to interfere with foreign policy and trample on the prerogatives of the incoming administration.
4
Anyone who believes Israel was sincere in the Oslo agreements, and later in the 'Roadmap to 2 states' with W., is delusional. Mr Carter was king of all he surveyed in the 1970s when it was still possible to force the occupiers to concede. 1967 was only 10 years old then. But he chose not to do anything about the occupation. Now on his death bed, moments away from his Day of Judgement, he is giving free advice to a Washington that is even deeper under Zionist occupation than it was 35 years ago.
1
President Carter: instead of commenting about Israel/Palestine and problems abroad, could you focus on the s___storm we've created in our own country that's about to take over our entire government in a few short weeks?
Thanks.
Thanks.
2
So tell me mr carter, where does all this leave the status of Jerusalem? A sticking point you fail to address.
3
Two states are not possible. Arabs want Israeli governance and the two can live together peacefully in one country. That's what is happening to the consternation of corrupt Arab leaders and anti-semitic Europe.
The comments by leftists make me realize how moronic leftists are (as moronic as Trump supporters from the right). The basic idea is as following - 1) Forget about human history of conquest and wars,..
2) Forget about the fact the peace treaties between countries in general last a few decades and that happens only when there is balance of power,
3) Forget about the slaughter of minorities in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon.
4) Forget about the fact that Fattah and its predecessors engages in brutal terror against Israel for almost 80 years (since 1920s)
5) Forget about Hamas which is a vile terror group that killed Fattah members and took control of Gaza.
Just close your eyes and repeat the mantra Mmmmm ..PEACE and it will happen. Just ask Putin, Erdogan, Assad ... they all do that every day
2) Forget about the fact the peace treaties between countries in general last a few decades and that happens only when there is balance of power,
3) Forget about the slaughter of minorities in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon.
4) Forget about the fact that Fattah and its predecessors engages in brutal terror against Israel for almost 80 years (since 1920s)
5) Forget about Hamas which is a vile terror group that killed Fattah members and took control of Gaza.
Just close your eyes and repeat the mantra Mmmmm ..PEACE and it will happen. Just ask Putin, Erdogan, Assad ... they all do that every day
5
Is this all you can write about Mr. President? Really, this country is doomed with a miscreant taking oath on 1/20/17 and you're writing about something that will never be fixed?
3
If this is a good idea why must it be forced on the parties? Why must it be pushed through in the last moments of a lame-duck presidency? The fact is, Carter the quixotic supposes a lot of things here to make his idea viable: Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist. A Palestinian government that is neither corrupt nor terrorist. Disarming swarms of existing Palestinian terrorists with a blood lust and Iranian missiles. UN Peacekeepers who will want to stay indefinitely when they are getting blown up like US Marines were in Lebanon. Who will decide the borders or the status of Jerusalem and refugees? Assuring Israeli security is a joke. Once guys like Carter get what they want, a terrorist state on Israel's borders, they cut and run and leave it to others to clean up their mess, which very well may be nuclear.
5
The Palestinians will get their own country when they stop supporting terrorism, and not a minute sooner. "Settlement is the answer to terror!"
6
Brilliant. And achievable!
If President Obama were handing off to a Democratic successor, he might feel constrained in leaving him/her the political turbulence of recognition of a Palestinian state.
Since instead, Mr. Obama is handing off to a loose cannon who feels lies, slander and attacking our most precious institutions and processes is normal daily activity, President Obama should listen to President Carter.
Just Do It Mr. President!
The Republicans are going to destroy your health care revolution. Leave them something they cannot take back and that the world will rejoice in. Let America be the beacon of democracy not just to the elite in the enemies of our enemies, but to peoples deserving freedom, self determination and statehood everywhere in the world.
American recognition of a Palestinian state will do more to destroy the heart of ISIS than any number of drones and Special Forces.
If President Obama were handing off to a Democratic successor, he might feel constrained in leaving him/her the political turbulence of recognition of a Palestinian state.
Since instead, Mr. Obama is handing off to a loose cannon who feels lies, slander and attacking our most precious institutions and processes is normal daily activity, President Obama should listen to President Carter.
Just Do It Mr. President!
The Republicans are going to destroy your health care revolution. Leave them something they cannot take back and that the world will rejoice in. Let America be the beacon of democracy not just to the elite in the enemies of our enemies, but to peoples deserving freedom, self determination and statehood everywhere in the world.
American recognition of a Palestinian state will do more to destroy the heart of ISIS than any number of drones and Special Forces.
President Carter,
You just issued a statement extending your "sympathies with the Castro family and the Cuban people on the death of Fidel Castro". It hard to take you seriously when you ignore Palestinian atrocities and make no mention of the suffering caused by the man who headed a totalitarian regime in Cuba for over 50 years.
You just issued a statement extending your "sympathies with the Castro family and the Cuban people on the death of Fidel Castro". It hard to take you seriously when you ignore Palestinian atrocities and make no mention of the suffering caused by the man who headed a totalitarian regime in Cuba for over 50 years.
5
As we walk through Israeli history, now over 68 years since it's founding, all serious efforts to permanently stabilize Palestine have failed due to the original sin of Israel's flawed creation.
There can be no better example of bad modern diplomacy than the United Nations, with Truman's American support, ignoring Secretary of State George Marshall's advice to not further destabilize the Middle East by creating Israel out of the British Mandate of Palestine.
The overwhelming evidence of flawed diplomacy is the utter failure by everyone to bring the parties together in a lasting peace. No need to play the blame game. Everyone has made mistakes.
While the diplomatic stalemate holds tight, Israel persists with Its Plan B, the continued use of settlement building to gradually and eventually take over almost all available land!
There can be no better example of bad modern diplomacy than the United Nations, with Truman's American support, ignoring Secretary of State George Marshall's advice to not further destabilize the Middle East by creating Israel out of the British Mandate of Palestine.
The overwhelming evidence of flawed diplomacy is the utter failure by everyone to bring the parties together in a lasting peace. No need to play the blame game. Everyone has made mistakes.
While the diplomatic stalemate holds tight, Israel persists with Its Plan B, the continued use of settlement building to gradually and eventually take over almost all available land!
1
Jimmy Carters thoughts are very rich indeed. He invokes the strength and austerity of the United Nations " a failed body" and their one sided anti- Israel resolutions.
Make a list Jimmy , make sure you add some of the most egregious atrocities being perpetrated on populations today.
Let's talk of the dearth of human rights in places like Iran and other parts of the Middle East and many other countries in the world. Let's put at the top of the the list the atrocities in Syria and have 137 countries vote a resolution to resolve that murderous imbroglio and then maybe when that's solved we can talk about Israel.
Your singular obsession with picking on Israel makes one wonder how you developed such a deep seated hatred.
Make a list Jimmy , make sure you add some of the most egregious atrocities being perpetrated on populations today.
Let's talk of the dearth of human rights in places like Iran and other parts of the Middle East and many other countries in the world. Let's put at the top of the the list the atrocities in Syria and have 137 countries vote a resolution to resolve that murderous imbroglio and then maybe when that's solved we can talk about Israel.
Your singular obsession with picking on Israel makes one wonder how you developed such a deep seated hatred.
7
While criticism of Israeli settlements is fair and legitimate, one sided treatments of any issue are not. To list a number of obligations that Israel has to the Palestinians without subjecting the Palestinians to an equally exacting standard is patently unfair, and explains why Mr. Carter is not viewed as an honest broker by many in the region. To demand of Israel that they must renounce settlements and be taken seriously, one must be equally forceful in denouncing Palestinian terror. To throw out platitudes about strengthening moderates is laughable when considering that the radicals control the entire Gaza because of previous misplaced hopes. While I sympathize with criticism of Mr. Netanyahu as insufficiently committed to peace, we must also acknowledge that his previous ten month settlement freeze met with no response from the Palestinian leadership. What incentive does he have to try again? With all of the sunny optimism on the backs of other people's security I would like to point out one thing. If the Palestinians laid down their weapons there would in all likelihood be peace. If the Israelis laid down theirs, their would in all likelihood be genocide.
7
For those who opine the 1, 2, or 3 state solution, or oppose the so-called "occupation," it is quite simple: Arabs/Moslems refuse the concept of Jews living amongst them in any way as reiterated in a 2015 poll. Commissioned by The Washington Institute and conducted by a leading Palestinian pollster, the poll comprised face-to-face interviews with a standard random geographic probability sample of 1,200 adult Palestinians, yielding results with a 3% statistical margin of error. "60 percent of those polled, including 55 percent in the West Bank and a commanding 68 percent in Gaza, reject permanently accepting Israel's existence and instead suggest their leaders "work toward reclaiming all of historic Palestine, from the river to the sea." Further "...those amenable to a two-state solution view such a move as “part of a ‘program of stages,’ to liberate all of historic Palestine later.” Nothing more need be said...
4
I question the integrity of so called U.S. Jews attacking so vociferously Jimmy Carter, a long proven champion of peace. Duel loyalty tilted toward one's foreign land (ancestors) justifiably brings worldwide condemnation against a people quick to sport, when convenient, the anti-Semitic wolf cry.
1
The world is capable of achieving peace.
The Zionists need to make a transition: they need to desire to love their neighbor. They need to want positive things for their neighbor. The Zionists need to recognize that their neighbors, all their neighbors, are human beings, just like the Zionists are.
The Zionists need to make a transition: they need to desire to love their neighbor. They need to want positive things for their neighbor. The Zionists need to recognize that their neighbors, all their neighbors, are human beings, just like the Zionists are.
2
Since the so called 'peace accords' in Oslo, settlers have gone from a few thousand to over half million today, constant and supported by government policies. Whole generations of children were/are raised under military rule then punished further for not accepting their status as a lesser non- chosen people. A host of restrictions and actions some recognized as illegal collective punishment of an entire population; over 40,000 home bulldozed so far; administrative detention, targeted killings, restrictions on every facet of life, Israeli only roads, a broken bones policy... And on and on... All supported by tens of billions of our tax dollars along with our determination to support, with nuclear weapons if necessary, this gross injustice. Worse still, how do we walk away from all this?
1
Despite the numbers, the land used by the settlements remains less than 5% of the total West Bank. More importantly, Israel has agreed to withdraw certain settlements in the event of a peace agreement and the P.A. has agreed to cede certain areas to Israel in the same circumstance. Israel has shown its willingness to remove such communities for peace, even by force if need be. When will the P.A. demonstrate any commitment to the promises of Oslo?
1
Jimmy Carter is most anti-Israeli and therefore most antiemetic president in the history of USA. He knows perfectly well that the action he proposed will lead to destruction of Israel; he definitely wants it. SHAME ON HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God".
How apt for Mr. Carter to cite Matthew (5:9), the New Testament, in a struggle between Jew and Muslim. And how inappropriate highlighting his lack of understanding.
Israeli and Palestinian will have to come to their own agreement through their own negotiations. One that is forced upon them would just unite Zionist Israelis in opposition or just be ignored in any case in less than two months.
Mr. Carter is like the author who had one really good novel and then cannot repeat it. Egypt and Israel worked because of a particular set of circumstances beyond the personalities and the same with Jordan (under President Bill Clinton). There were no rival claims of territory with either. Sinai was not Israel and Jordan turned its back on the West Bank. Just two nations making a deal over different lands.
Israel and the Palestinians struggle over the same territory; for the Palestinians it is still 1948 and not 1967 (refugees from 1948 demand return). That is a different situation.
Mr. Obama can squander what little he has of a foreign policy legacy in the Middle East by following Mr. Carter's advice.
How apt for Mr. Carter to cite Matthew (5:9), the New Testament, in a struggle between Jew and Muslim. And how inappropriate highlighting his lack of understanding.
Israeli and Palestinian will have to come to their own agreement through their own negotiations. One that is forced upon them would just unite Zionist Israelis in opposition or just be ignored in any case in less than two months.
Mr. Carter is like the author who had one really good novel and then cannot repeat it. Egypt and Israel worked because of a particular set of circumstances beyond the personalities and the same with Jordan (under President Bill Clinton). There were no rival claims of territory with either. Sinai was not Israel and Jordan turned its back on the West Bank. Just two nations making a deal over different lands.
Israel and the Palestinians struggle over the same territory; for the Palestinians it is still 1948 and not 1967 (refugees from 1948 demand return). That is a different situation.
Mr. Obama can squander what little he has of a foreign policy legacy in the Middle East by following Mr. Carter's advice.
5
Recognize Palestine and stop building Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. What Israel is doing to Palestine is the equivalent of what Russia is doing to Crimea. Why we find one action acceptable and not the other is a topic worth contemplating.
Former President Jimmy Carter is absolutely correct. The only way to ensure that there is a,"two-state solution" to the Israel-Palestine conflict is for the Obama Administration to join other nations in giving diplomatic recognition to a State of Palestine. I remember how excited I was as an eight year-old when President Harry Truman took the unpopular step in recognizing the State of Israel and we sang the Haktivah in our synagogue. That was 68 years ago. It's time for the United States to realize that prodding Israel has not worked. It's time to follow President Carter's advice and recognize a Palestinian state.
Why do the interlopers, the Israelis get to decide the fate of the indigenous people they displaced? The UN should just impose its will as they did at the creation of the new state on Palestinian land in 1948.
1
As always, President Carter faults Israel for the woes in the middle east, as if recognition of a Palestinian state would stop Hamas from trying to destroy Israel and Jews. Just once I wish he would comment on the vile propaganda fed to generation after generation of Palestinian children by Hamas and the PA.
4
God love you, Jimmy Carter.
The world could use a whole lot more of you right now.
Wishing you well always.
The world could use a whole lot more of you right now.
Wishing you well always.
1
Jimmy Carter is the weakest president of the modern era. Here is another bad idea. The Palestinians are not ready to talk peace. Hamas is a dictatorship and the PA is corrupt and afraid to hold elections. Israel doesn't trust the Palestinians , why should they. Please jimmy go build houses and teach Sunday school. Your not up for the challenges of the Middle East .
6
Maybe it's time to remember that it was also during President Carter's administration that Yassir Arafat was permitted into the United Nations dressed in army fatigues and fully armed. It was a travesty. No matter what President Obama has said during this administration, it is clear that he has taken a deliberate back seat about doing anything that might lead to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. It's too hot to touch, there is too much going on in the Middle East right now. While I fully support the creation of a Palestinian state, I have no illusions about the two states "living side by side in peace." It is unfortunate, but I think President Carter is, at best, disingenuous.
5
Jimmy Carter, the last man of real integrity to hold the office of President, urges peace and a two-state solution. Standing in the way: AIPAC. Obama is too modest to impose his will at this juncture. Trump already promised AIPAC his next grandchild and is unlikely to step on Israeli toes. And so Jimmy Carter's voice will fade in the wind, the lost voice of America's conscience...
1
Nowhere in Mr. Carter's opinion does there appear any mention of the well recognized concept that the final borders can only be determined by direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Sadly the Palestinians, have chosen to seek the final determination of its borders by going to Europe and the U. N. rather than negotiate with Israel as is required by the Camp David Accords. Apparently former President Carter is an advocate of this approach and is seeking President Obama's agreement as he leaves the oval office.
The key to setting the final border was to be land swaps on both sides of the 67 line to account for the settlements and to give to the Palestinians land on the Israeli side of the 67 line to make up for the land that the settlements took away from the Palestinian side of the line.
Again Mr. Carter's opinion piece makes no mention of the agreement on the concept of land swaps in defining the final border and neither does any imposed solution suggested by the Palestinians.
In short, Mr. Carter apparently believes in what one might call a new "Final Solution" that is to uproot all the Israelis out of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and ship them into what was 1947 Israel.
Finally, Mr. Carter makes no mention of the Palestinian's demand for a "Right of Return" of former Arab lands within Israel's 1948 U.N. border
There is no way Israel will agree to any agreement imposed on them and neither should the United States force them to.
Sadly the Palestinians, have chosen to seek the final determination of its borders by going to Europe and the U. N. rather than negotiate with Israel as is required by the Camp David Accords. Apparently former President Carter is an advocate of this approach and is seeking President Obama's agreement as he leaves the oval office.
The key to setting the final border was to be land swaps on both sides of the 67 line to account for the settlements and to give to the Palestinians land on the Israeli side of the 67 line to make up for the land that the settlements took away from the Palestinian side of the line.
Again Mr. Carter's opinion piece makes no mention of the agreement on the concept of land swaps in defining the final border and neither does any imposed solution suggested by the Palestinians.
In short, Mr. Carter apparently believes in what one might call a new "Final Solution" that is to uproot all the Israelis out of the West Bank including East Jerusalem and ship them into what was 1947 Israel.
Finally, Mr. Carter makes no mention of the Palestinian's demand for a "Right of Return" of former Arab lands within Israel's 1948 U.N. border
There is no way Israel will agree to any agreement imposed on them and neither should the United States force them to.
4
The PA and Israel want a two state solution. Hamas does not. Hamas still does not recognize Israel and launched attacks from Gaza when Israel returned control to the Palestinians. I've been to Israel and the West bank several times. Most People on both sides would like peace and a two state solution. Israel may not always be perfect when it comes to settlements, but she does not want to destroy the Palestinian people. Recognizing a Palestinian state right now would be a reward to Hamas for years of terrorism, and until an underlying peace is reached, like Gaza it would give birth to a platform for even more terrorism. When all Palestinian factions agree to recognize Israel, stop teaching hatred in schools and halt the glorification of murderers, we can recognize a Palestinian state.
2
I went to Israel on a special tour to encourage religious aliyah by middle class people with careers to move to Israel in 1986-87. My first day in Israel I was
in the West Bank. After the tour ended, I rented a car and crossed Israel several times, purposely, without a map. My last few hours in Israel, I finally pulled out a map and try to imagine a separate state carved out of Israel and West Bank.
My reaction then, after seeing the land and accurately predicting the current
situation on the West Bank, was "are they mad?"
The geology, the topography, the economics do not allow a two state solution.
Jews and "the Palestinians" are fated to share the same country for good or
for ill. I concluded that in 1987 and after living in Israel for a total of 5 years with a dozen additional short trips, my conclusion has only been confirmed.
And, what Jimmy Carter fails to get is that genetic testing has shown that
"the Palestinians" are genetically, well, Jews. They are descendant from the Jews who never left Israel. So, in fact, the two people belong together. They
will work it out. I dare any American to go to my medical school and mingle
with the students and accurately identify who is a Jew and who is an Arab.
The only way I can is to hear what language they are talking with their friends.
in the West Bank. After the tour ended, I rented a car and crossed Israel several times, purposely, without a map. My last few hours in Israel, I finally pulled out a map and try to imagine a separate state carved out of Israel and West Bank.
My reaction then, after seeing the land and accurately predicting the current
situation on the West Bank, was "are they mad?"
The geology, the topography, the economics do not allow a two state solution.
Jews and "the Palestinians" are fated to share the same country for good or
for ill. I concluded that in 1987 and after living in Israel for a total of 5 years with a dozen additional short trips, my conclusion has only been confirmed.
And, what Jimmy Carter fails to get is that genetic testing has shown that
"the Palestinians" are genetically, well, Jews. They are descendant from the Jews who never left Israel. So, in fact, the two people belong together. They
will work it out. I dare any American to go to my medical school and mingle
with the students and accurately identify who is a Jew and who is an Arab.
The only way I can is to hear what language they are talking with their friends.
1
In fact, America has done everything short of spitting outright in Israel's face at every given opportunity while kissing the Palestinians' posteriors for the past eight years. The Palestinians and terror-inciting governments have stomped on every olive branch and sabotaged every peace plan and offer of cooperative statehood offered to them by Israel and various international power brokers since 1948--and you were one of them. Give it a rest, Jimmeh! You are only alive today to spout your usual Anti-Zionist tripe courtesy of a Cancer drug developed by Israeli researchers. Unfortunately, there is no cure on the horizon for your peculiarly sanctimonious brand of politically correct Anti-Semitism. Try praying for your own soul the next time you go to church.
2
Before the Gaza "disengagement" a Palestinian worker was repairing the plumbing in a settler's house, happily singing away. The Israeli yelled at him and cursed him, and asked him why he was so happy. The Palestinian said that he was happy because "some day this house with be mine."
And so it will go with the rest of occupied Palestine.
But, knowing the zionists, I predict they will dynamite and bulldoze the houses in the settlements before leaving. That will tell us exactly who they are.
And so it will go with the rest of occupied Palestine.
But, knowing the zionists, I predict they will dynamite and bulldoze the houses in the settlements before leaving. That will tell us exactly who they are.
This is a man who, once again, shows no love in his heart for Israel or the Jewish people. Go back to the 1967 borders?! Who violated those borders? When the Palestinians stop their terror and decide on fully recognizing Israel, that's when peace can be achieved, a peace with secure borders.
5
I don't care what Israel does or does not do.
I just don't want Americans to waste another minute on this issue.
Neither party has been honest with us.
The Israelis say the Palestinians don't want peace.
But we also know.. buy watching 50 years of illegal settlements being built.. there's hard proof ... that Israelis never wanted peace either.
America is being made the fool.
Netanyahu said.. no 2 states.
Fine.
What that should mean to Americans is..
Hey, sorry it didn't work.. but we have other things to do.
You are wasting our time. .. and our good name.
I just don't want Americans to waste another minute on this issue.
Neither party has been honest with us.
The Israelis say the Palestinians don't want peace.
But we also know.. buy watching 50 years of illegal settlements being built.. there's hard proof ... that Israelis never wanted peace either.
America is being made the fool.
Netanyahu said.. no 2 states.
Fine.
What that should mean to Americans is..
Hey, sorry it didn't work.. but we have other things to do.
You are wasting our time. .. and our good name.
2
Security Council Resolution 242 called for Israeli withdrawal "from territories," not withdrawal from "the territories." U.N. Ambassador Goldberg made very clear that this was intentional. The resolution was not intended to require the withdrawal from all territories. Nothing has changed in the almost 50 years since then that would cause any sensible Israeli government to withdraw from all territories. Go to Israel and check out where the 1967 borders would be. Look at a map and see how Jerusalem would be divided and how easily Israel could be split in two. And just to get a sense of how Palestinians react to withdrawal, then ask the people of Ashdod and Ashkelon how they feel about having Hamas run nearby Gaza. Hamas would also run the PA out of the West Bank in a New York minute if the Israelis weren't there. Then, all of "Palestine" would be run by terrorist thugs. Time for Jimmy Carter to mind his own business, or maybe focus on some other obsession rather than continuing his one sided attack on Israel.
5
There is mutual fear and hate.
Gaza was an enormous opportunity for further progress.
However the infamous tunnels aren't constructed for encouraging tourism & industry.
Jews fear the West Bank is similarly vulnerable.
The parties mutually seem to have given-up on ideals of rational compromise.
They can't politely share the Temple Mount, which should be a symbol of
religious hope & human unity.
Meanwhile, I hereby thank America for allowing me to be agnostic.
They initially democratically chose Hamas.
Gaza was an enormous opportunity for further progress.
However the infamous tunnels aren't constructed for encouraging tourism & industry.
Jews fear the West Bank is similarly vulnerable.
The parties mutually seem to have given-up on ideals of rational compromise.
They can't politely share the Temple Mount, which should be a symbol of
religious hope & human unity.
Meanwhile, I hereby thank America for allowing me to be agnostic.
They initially democratically chose Hamas.
2
A bold move indeed; the only way to save the peace process and the two state solution. I hope President Obama will consider this suggestion...but I am not holding my breath.
2
There are no kind words for Carter except to say that he is wrong about the history and the political reality of Israel and this conflict and that we are truly blessed that he is not in office to make policy decisions.
5
I am generally pro-Israel. I also believe in the necessity to "grant" the Palestinians a land to call their own, including the occupied territories. However, which faction do you negotiate with? Should the UN take over, organize elections, and let whoever wins draft a constitution and organize a model of government of their choice?
How long would the peacekeeping corps have jurisdiction? What would its mission be exactly? Given that shooting rockets towards Israel seems to be a favorite pastime among Palestinians, to what extent would the UN force be allowed to fight Palestinian terrorists (which would immediately be misinterpreted as siding with Israel)?
It seems that granting the Palestinians their own state, but denying them an army of their own, while Israel entertains its powerful military backed by the US, would be seen as granting them a token state; a not-quite-state. Of course, there's objectively no sane argument for a Palestinian army given the recent and ongoing situation, but for Palestine to exist as a true sovereign state on the same standing, and with the same rights as its neighbor, that question will need to be addressed.
I have a suggestion for Jerusalem: as it has great significance for all three monotheistic religions, it would seem fair to turn it into an independent city, governed by the UN. The Israelis would certainly oppose such a change, but there is no reason for them to control sites of importance to both the Muslim and the Christian communities
How long would the peacekeeping corps have jurisdiction? What would its mission be exactly? Given that shooting rockets towards Israel seems to be a favorite pastime among Palestinians, to what extent would the UN force be allowed to fight Palestinian terrorists (which would immediately be misinterpreted as siding with Israel)?
It seems that granting the Palestinians their own state, but denying them an army of their own, while Israel entertains its powerful military backed by the US, would be seen as granting them a token state; a not-quite-state. Of course, there's objectively no sane argument for a Palestinian army given the recent and ongoing situation, but for Palestine to exist as a true sovereign state on the same standing, and with the same rights as its neighbor, that question will need to be addressed.
I have a suggestion for Jerusalem: as it has great significance for all three monotheistic religions, it would seem fair to turn it into an independent city, governed by the UN. The Israelis would certainly oppose such a change, but there is no reason for them to control sites of importance to both the Muslim and the Christian communities
Mr.President,
With all due respect, why didn't you do it in 1978-1980?
Why didn't you put pressure on Begin, Dayan,Shamir,and Ezer Weizman?
Your Camp David Accord was nothing but a blueprint to pacify Egypt and whoever want to follow in Saddat's shameful footsteps.
Was it much easier to cajole Saddat into unconditional submission than get Begin and his Zionist cabal to recognize The Palestinians right to their homeland?
Since you left office Sir, the Middle East had been in permanent state of upheaval.
And it's all your Camp David Accord legacy.
With all due respect, why didn't you do it in 1978-1980?
Why didn't you put pressure on Begin, Dayan,Shamir,and Ezer Weizman?
Your Camp David Accord was nothing but a blueprint to pacify Egypt and whoever want to follow in Saddat's shameful footsteps.
Was it much easier to cajole Saddat into unconditional submission than get Begin and his Zionist cabal to recognize The Palestinians right to their homeland?
Since you left office Sir, the Middle East had been in permanent state of upheaval.
And it's all your Camp David Accord legacy.
1
Carter tried. Israel broke its promises to him and time ran out.
Please, Mr. Carter, show me where and when in the past 1,400 years islam has existed side-by-side with it's neighbors in peace? The past 1,400 years and counting of islamic conquest and history glaringly tells us one thing: peaceful coexistence with the rest of humanity is an unislamic concept.
The Israelis will not be played for fools when the evidence of islamic intent is so obvious.
The Israelis will not be played for fools when the evidence of islamic intent is so obvious.
4
Rob, I can show you where Islam protected Jews. In Muslim Spain from about 711 to the 12th century Muslims protected the extensive Jewish community from the Visigoths and from Christians. Then the Muslims were conquered in Spain and without their protection, Jews were expelled from Spain and found refuge in Muslim Turkey and North Africa. America had no Islamic enemies in the Middle East before the creation of Israel. That is not to say our quest for oil and support of dictators added nothing to the hate inspired by U.S. foreign policy.
A sane voice in America, but not many takers here I think (so few comments).
1
Perhaps Palestine just needs to recognize Israel!! then we can begin the process of a permanent lasting peace. Naturally, President Carter, refuses to acknowledge this point, as, unfortunately many other nations.
5
Pals were offered a very large land area, in 1947, and said no, via their forebears, the nearby Arab nations, and nothing has changed
so when Pals accept their own causation of their immiseration
we can have a start
which will never happen, so the armed peace with violent breakouts will continue for eternity
sort of like Chicago
so when Pals accept their own causation of their immiseration
we can have a start
which will never happen, so the armed peace with violent breakouts will continue for eternity
sort of like Chicago
3
Pres. Carter is among the greatest Statesmen we have had, and came close to achieving the 2 state solution, which should be completed as he states: action by Obama. Trump, by all accounts, won't do it.
Carter's words in this important opinion piece, must be followed.
Carter's words in this important opinion piece, must be followed.
1
Since when, in world history, have those who committed an aggressive war of annihilation against a peaceful party - and lost their own land, rather than gained the land of their victimized neighbors' - been entitled to the return of that gambled land? Resolution 242 is absurd in world history, in that it would reward warmongers for their sinful deeds. Had the Arab armies won their wars of aggression against Israel, would a Resolution 242 demand that the Israelis get their land back? Of course not. That's never been how the world works. Carter's whole premise is completely absurd by all historic standards.
4
God bless you, Mr. Carter, but as a man who preceded you in the White House pointed out in 1796:
"So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation [America] for another [Israel] produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation [Israel], facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one [America] the enmities of the other [Israel], betrays the former [America] into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter [Israel] without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation [Israel] of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions [America]; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained [$3B annually + loan guarantees], and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld [the rest of the Middle East]. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens [AIPAC] (who devote themselves to the favorite nation [Israel]), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country [presumably, America], without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation [unconditional support for Israel]."
"So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation [America] for another [Israel] produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation [Israel], facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one [America] the enmities of the other [Israel], betrays the former [America] into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter [Israel] without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation [Israel] of privileges denied to others which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions [America]; by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained [$3B annually + loan guarantees], and by exciting jealousy, ill-will, and a disposition to retaliate, in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld [the rest of the Middle East]. And it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens [AIPAC] (who devote themselves to the favorite nation [Israel]), facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country [presumably, America], without odium, sometimes even with popularity; gilding, with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good, the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation [unconditional support for Israel]."
1
Thank you, Mr President, for your thoughtful words of wisdom and encouragement. If only you could be our Secretary of State. With your experience and wisdom who knows what you could do. Peace and love to you and a many more years of life.
1
As a Jew and a supporter of Israel, I agree with this article. If Zionism has one thing to teach the world, it is that if a people wants its own country, sooner or later it will get one. Israel is the shining example of that truth. The Palestiniams are not going to just disappear or say, "Whatever." If Israel were smart, it would become the Palestinian state's best friend and finally join the Middle East community.
The one exception here should be Jerusalem's Old City. The unfailing test of proper administration there is maximum permission to worship at the holy sites. Under Arab rule, 1947-67, those sites were closed to Jews, among others. Under Israeli rule, the Old City is open to all. This should remain Israeli, because they have shown they can run it in the most open way possible.
The one exception here should be Jerusalem's Old City. The unfailing test of proper administration there is maximum permission to worship at the holy sites. Under Arab rule, 1947-67, those sites were closed to Jews, among others. Under Israeli rule, the Old City is open to all. This should remain Israeli, because they have shown they can run it in the most open way possible.
1
God bless President Carter. We are lucky to have his wisdom, charity and decency as a shining example, especially in these troubled times.
1
How blind, and party pris, Carter is. His pie in the sky solution would expose Israel to grave security threats, a risk no American leader would ever allow his (her) country to court. When it comes to Israel, it's different. And if the moderate Palestinian leadership he envisions fails to materialize in the scenario he paints, then what? What trust should be placed in his pious words give the response to Israel in the face of the Gaza withdrawal? Given the off and on terror of the last decades.
Anyway that land he wants Jews out of is disputed territory. It's no more Palestinian than the land of Israel is Jewish, as the proponents of the right of return make so clear every time peace comes near. In other words, only a final peace deal between the combatants will solve it. Recognizing one side before its over only show bias.
Carter is an inveterate pro-Arab observer and will never give the Jews a fair shake on this issue, in my opinion.
Anyway that land he wants Jews out of is disputed territory. It's no more Palestinian than the land of Israel is Jewish, as the proponents of the right of return make so clear every time peace comes near. In other words, only a final peace deal between the combatants will solve it. Recognizing one side before its over only show bias.
Carter is an inveterate pro-Arab observer and will never give the Jews a fair shake on this issue, in my opinion.
6
Kudos to Jimmy Carter for speaking up! His recommendation is right on the mark.
1
The Palestinians have squandered their chance for peace. Nobody cares anymore.
6
I understand what Israel plans to do with the land in the West Bank. I do not, however, understand what they are going to do with the Palestinian people in the West Bank.
Time will tell.
Time will tell.
1
No Mr. Carter. It is time for a new direction. Much as i am skeptical of Trump, there are possibilities here similar to Nixon in China and Reagan with the Berlin wall. If the palestinians want a state, the time to "sue" for peace is now. And that path is bilateral talks with Israel along with changes in palestinian society to make peace possible.
2
Unfortunately Mr. President your fear and prediction of Israel becoming an apartheid State will one day become a reality. People like Mr. Netanyahu with his policy of grabbing land from its neighbor will make sure that the Palestinians remain subjugated. The real dance will come when the Palestinians come to agree to one state solution and the world recognizes the entire territory of West Bank and Gaza as part of Israel and its inhabitants as Israeli citizens. One day the Arab population will represent a majority and the dream of a Jewish state will disappear, thanks to people like Mr. Netanyahu.
Mr. President in my view you were a great president and probably the finest man to occupy that office
Mr. President in my view you were a great president and probably the finest man to occupy that office
1
As always when the Israeli-Palestinian issue is brought up, there will be many comments here to the effect that peace cannot come to the area until the Palestinians give up terrorism, or that there will be no peace until the Palestinians are united, or that peace is impossible until the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Whether you are doing in knowingly or not, what you folks are advocating is more of the same -- that the occupation and the status quo be maintained while Israeli settlers gobble up more and more of the land. Knowingly or not, your rationale is one of buying time for a one-state "solution," while the two-state solution grows further and further out of reach.
Mr. Abbas has made clear that he wants a negotiated peace, has held out his hand and practically begged for a negotiated settlement. His one condition? -- a pause in the building of Israeli settlements. This condition is not acceptable to the state of Israel, and this fact should make apparent to the whole world, including those of you who continue to blame the Palestinians, the true intentions of the Israeli government. Stop blaming Mr. Abbas and the Palestinians -- your motivation for doing so has become clear to those of us who dread the coming of the apartheid state of Israel.
Mr. Abbas has made clear that he wants a negotiated peace, has held out his hand and practically begged for a negotiated settlement. His one condition? -- a pause in the building of Israeli settlements. This condition is not acceptable to the state of Israel, and this fact should make apparent to the whole world, including those of you who continue to blame the Palestinians, the true intentions of the Israeli government. Stop blaming Mr. Abbas and the Palestinians -- your motivation for doing so has become clear to those of us who dread the coming of the apartheid state of Israel.
2
While I sympathize with the sentiments, President Carter's name calling in asserting that Israel is an apartheid state has disqualified him as an honest broker. He does not have the best interests of both parties at heart.
7
Dear President Carter, We have bigger fish to fry right now. Your clearheaded thinking will confuse the chimpanzee we elected so if you could hold off until he gets impeached that would be great. Thank you.
Time for Mr Carter to find another cause. Israel must not recognize any Palestinian state unless they also recognize the State of Israel. To do so would imperial the Jewish homeland. Of course, Israel will not do anything to recognize a Palestinian state which indulges in constant anti-Israeli propaganda-sends fighters to kill citizens in Israel and acts like what they really are-a terrorist state supported by the Iranians and their lackeys.
Jimmy Carter should have no influence now-and he does not-considering his mish-mash in the White House. Former Presidents should learn a lesson and stay out of things they really do not understand. The wisdom of "old presidents' is just that-"old" and not worthy of consideration in a changed world. There is no spirit of Camp David alive-a grossly overrated scenario which lives in fantasy land now.
Jimmy Carter should have no influence now-and he does not-considering his mish-mash in the White House. Former Presidents should learn a lesson and stay out of things they really do not understand. The wisdom of "old presidents' is just that-"old" and not worthy of consideration in a changed world. There is no spirit of Camp David alive-a grossly overrated scenario which lives in fantasy land now.
5
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The conservative Israelis will never stop until all the biblical territories are in their possession. Israel like America is a rightwing country.
Optimism isn't going to prevail here.
The conservative Israelis will never stop until all the biblical territories are in their possession. Israel like America is a rightwing country.
Optimism isn't going to prevail here.
3
I hope Trump will fulfill his promise to cease nation building and pull the $3 billion in annual aid we give to Israel. They and their neighbors can disagree about boundaries and religions as long as my dollars don't support a misguided relief project following WWII.
1
President Carter is in an excellent position to remind us of the historical context for America's support of Israel and the conditions attached thereto by UN resolutions. The current government of Israel clearly has no intention of abiding by those resolutions. A two-state solution is nothing more than lip-service and a political head-fake to the outside world. I'm very disappointed that President Obama didn't tie the recent $38-billion, 10-year aid package to a firm commitment to stopping the settlements. Obama could have done so at no domestic political risk to himself. It was a huge missed opportunity.
I just can't see Trump, or the Republicans in Congress, holding Israel accountable for anything resembling a two-state solution. Trump lacks historical context; he just wants to broker the next deal. The deal is done. The Republicans have no stake in the game at this point.
The next move is up to the Palestinians.
I just can't see Trump, or the Republicans in Congress, holding Israel accountable for anything resembling a two-state solution. Trump lacks historical context; he just wants to broker the next deal. The deal is done. The Republicans have no stake in the game at this point.
The next move is up to the Palestinians.
1
Jimmy Carter has well demonstrated over the course of years that he grossly biased and anti-Israel. I suggest that he concentrate on getting the arabs to recognize the right of Israel to exist before he bends his rhetoric towards the US recognizing "Palestine."
8
There is word in Yidish describing what Mr. Carter writes (demands) and it is hutzpa, sheer hutzpa. Since the heroic attemp of President Clinton to shape an agreement ("I killed myself to get the Palestinians a state" he had said angrily), from which Arafat ran away, the Palestinians run away from a two state solution like running from a fire. The very simple reason is that they refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and to give up the right of return of Palestinian refugees to Israel proper. Abbas has refused to any direct peace talks without preconditions, and incitement continues, resulting in the recent arson in Israel. And now, Carter who is considered by many Israelis, and rightfully so, as an anti Israel and an antisemite, proposes unilateral recognition of a terror organization, which has never given up its plan to destroy Israel. This is a shameful article. One thing should be made clear by Israel - if Obama follows this extreme anti Israel advise, Israel should annex area C and give Israeli citizenship to its 100,000 Arabs.
8
The no. 1 myth is the labeling of “settlements” as the primary obstacle to peace. The true barrier is the same one it has always been: the so-called “right of return” – and the Palestinian’s refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people. The Arabs waged war on Israel DECADES BEFORE there was a single “settlement”. How do you explain away that???? You can't.
In 2002 and again in 2008, the leftist governments offered Arafat and then Abbas virtually EVERYTHING the Palestinian Authority demanded. Arafat's response was to launch the worst wave of terrorism in Israel's history. PM Olmert went even further in 2008. Abbas simply walked away. That destroyed the left in Israel.
Until the "moderate" Palestinians stop glorifying "martyrs" of terror and mass murder, and stop their media, schools, and mosques from educating their people to hate, the people of Israel will continue to believe there is no true partner for peace. The "Palestinians" have never made a single major concession, and don't intend to do so. That's why they're seeking to impose a "solution" on totally their terms. No negotiations. No peace.
The “moderate” PA does not even include the state of Israel on their maps, for heaven's sake!
The Palestinian Arabs don’t want a secure state of Israel, current polls and the election of Hamas attest to that. No PA leader is willing to utter the phrase “two states for two peoples”. Why?
In 2002 and again in 2008, the leftist governments offered Arafat and then Abbas virtually EVERYTHING the Palestinian Authority demanded. Arafat's response was to launch the worst wave of terrorism in Israel's history. PM Olmert went even further in 2008. Abbas simply walked away. That destroyed the left in Israel.
Until the "moderate" Palestinians stop glorifying "martyrs" of terror and mass murder, and stop their media, schools, and mosques from educating their people to hate, the people of Israel will continue to believe there is no true partner for peace. The "Palestinians" have never made a single major concession, and don't intend to do so. That's why they're seeking to impose a "solution" on totally their terms. No negotiations. No peace.
The “moderate” PA does not even include the state of Israel on their maps, for heaven's sake!
The Palestinian Arabs don’t want a secure state of Israel, current polls and the election of Hamas attest to that. No PA leader is willing to utter the phrase “two states for two peoples”. Why?
8
God bless Jimmy Carter. If he had been reelected there would have been a Palestinian state in 1981 and the Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans would have been spared thousands of deaths and anguish. In its quest for territory Israel places its own citizens in harms way, and then spends 100s of billions protecting them.
2
As long as the United States continues to send billions of dollars to Israel as well as advance weaponry, Israel will have no incentive to negotiate with the Palestinians. It's that simple.
1
What Palestine , the opportunity for a two state solution is long past. All that is left is the Jewish apartheid state of Israel.
The Palestinians have lived under occupation for centuries, but none so brutal or deadly as that which they endure under Israel. Only one side in this quarrel has an army. Israel was created out of Palestine for political reasons and that state was founded on terrorism: Ergun, the Stern Gang, Haganah. The atrocities committed by those groups far outweigh anything perpetrated by the Palestinians. Americans were largely denied this knowledge as the Palestinians have almost always been presented in the media as the aggressors. 66,000 Palestinians expelled by nascent Israel from Jaffa. Ethnic cleansing and massacres (Deir Yassin) Americans don't know this. The rest of the world reads and hears less biased information. The perceived indifference of America to the suffering and injustice perpetrated against the Palestinians inspires terrorism against the U.S--look at what Ramzi Youssef and Khaled Sheik Muhammed gave as reasons for their attacks. Can't the U.S. for once seek peace and justice in the region and ignore what AIPAC wants? I am in awe of the contribution of Jewish people in the U.S. regarding human rights in the U.S., and not all of them support the goals of AIPAC.
1
The worst thing you could wish for Israel would be a 2-state "solution". That Carter does not have Israel's best interests in mind has been evident for a long time. That is indeed the case with Obama as well. I find it reprehensible that he is urging Obama to jump on something such as this in order to put it in place prior to the next president taking office.
Let Israel make the decisions that it needs to make to ensure its own security. Obama has created enough of a legacy with his "Iran deal" that has provided Iran with significant sums of money and has added to the destabilization of the region. Adding to this legacy by further harming Israel would be the icing on the cake.
NY Times; how about laying off on Israel for a while. There are plenty of miserable human rights violations, poverty, subordination of women and lots more to get involved with in a whole host of other countries. Knock yourself out; let Israel govern Israel for a change.
Let Israel make the decisions that it needs to make to ensure its own security. Obama has created enough of a legacy with his "Iran deal" that has provided Iran with significant sums of money and has added to the destabilization of the region. Adding to this legacy by further harming Israel would be the icing on the cake.
NY Times; how about laying off on Israel for a while. There are plenty of miserable human rights violations, poverty, subordination of women and lots more to get involved with in a whole host of other countries. Knock yourself out; let Israel govern Israel for a change.
4
It is a nice thought, but at this point the two-state solution is a pipe dream. AIPAC won, J-Street lost. The Israeli right is in power and Trump will probably do their bidding. It is either apartheid or mass deportation for the Palestinians. F
I say this after having lived in Israel for years, and with many Israeli friends (who agree with me): Israel is an apartheid state.
The Palestinians have wanted independence and autonomy for decades, yet are forced to live under occupation in a separate, and certainly unequal system of rule. It is clearly a very complicated situation, as both sides have walked away from good negotiations in the past, leaders from both sides have been assassinated, and hundreds (even thousands) of Israelis and Palestinians have lost their lives to this unending conflict. We all recognize that both sides have been terribly aggrieved, and we mourn for all losses. But it is time to call a truce, withdraw the illegal settlements, and live as two states in as near a peace as possible.
The Palestinians have wanted independence and autonomy for decades, yet are forced to live under occupation in a separate, and certainly unequal system of rule. It is clearly a very complicated situation, as both sides have walked away from good negotiations in the past, leaders from both sides have been assassinated, and hundreds (even thousands) of Israelis and Palestinians have lost their lives to this unending conflict. We all recognize that both sides have been terribly aggrieved, and we mourn for all losses. But it is time to call a truce, withdraw the illegal settlements, and live as two states in as near a peace as possible.
65
"The Palestinians have wanted independence and autonomy for decades, yet are forced to live under occupation ..."
Then why didn't the Palestinians accept the Clinton Parameters or Kerry Plan? What obligations will be expected of them in any resolution to the conflict?
Then why didn't the Palestinians accept the Clinton Parameters or Kerry Plan? What obligations will be expected of them in any resolution to the conflict?
1
To call Israeli society "apartheid" is an offense to the memory of people who actually suffered under the Apartheid of South Africa. Under Apartheid there were separate sets of laws for White, Colored and Black. There is no legal difference between an Israeli Jew and an Israeli Arab. Israeli Arabs serve in the Cabinet, in the Knesset, at the highest levels of the ambassadorial service, the police and the army (though Arab service in the army is voluntary, and Jewish service is mandatory), on the Supreme Court. There are two official languages, Hebrew and Arabic. There is doubtless prejudice. But there is no justification for calling it an apartheid state. Details matter. Get your facts straight.
1
"Israel is an apartheid state. "
How so, SPECIFICALLY?
"are forced to live under occupation " because they lost a war of extermination the initiated.
"withdraw the illegal settlements"
Which competent court has ever found the settlements to be "illegal"?
How so, SPECIFICALLY?
"are forced to live under occupation " because they lost a war of extermination the initiated.
"withdraw the illegal settlements"
Which competent court has ever found the settlements to be "illegal"?
1
Mr. Carter,
Your advising a sitting-duck president, in a time of great national discord, to take a foreign policy step that is by-and-large not supported shows how little respect you have for our country. You rather wave the flag on your favorite issue than show the wisdom of self-control a man your age might have developed. You are no statesman.
You also have little respect as a honest broker. Even someone that is predisposed to a two state solution would not want to have you straighten the call to that outcome, as you have turned people off with your myopic view of where things stand.
Your advising a sitting-duck president, in a time of great national discord, to take a foreign policy step that is by-and-large not supported shows how little respect you have for our country. You rather wave the flag on your favorite issue than show the wisdom of self-control a man your age might have developed. You are no statesman.
You also have little respect as a honest broker. Even someone that is predisposed to a two state solution would not want to have you straighten the call to that outcome, as you have turned people off with your myopic view of where things stand.
4
American expansion in history is why we as a nation cannot preach against it in the Middle East. Writing pragmatically after fifty years of reading about the conflicts in the Middle East, there will be no peace until the entire region is Israel and Palestinians live on reservations and are further repressed and oppressed as they revolt. Isn't that what has been happening for fifty years?
Israelis are just like us and we have no moral authority to be critical. We can only recognize typical human behavior and try to minimize hostility.
The Israeli Palestinian conflicts are but one of many that occur in an ever expanding population as the world seems to grow smaller.
In my sixty years, the population has doubled. Since the great war, it has tripled.
My Theorum is that the frequency of conflicts is directly proportional to the population explosion occurring over time and the growth of information exchange, and especially the growth of Television that mesmerizes minds.
Israelis are just like us and we have no moral authority to be critical. We can only recognize typical human behavior and try to minimize hostility.
The Israeli Palestinian conflicts are but one of many that occur in an ever expanding population as the world seems to grow smaller.
In my sixty years, the population has doubled. Since the great war, it has tripled.
My Theorum is that the frequency of conflicts is directly proportional to the population explosion occurring over time and the growth of information exchange, and especially the growth of Television that mesmerizes minds.
Had the US cut its massive financial aid to Israel as a sign of American disapproval of the illegal occupation by Israelis of Palestinian land, it's possible Israel would have responded by halting settlements. But as long as the flow of cash and the political support (especially in Congress) for the Israeli apartheid state continue, whatever criticism presidents Carter and Obama might level against Israel will be treated in Tel Aviv as background noise to be ignored.
1
A lot of talk about what Israel is doing wrong and needs to change. But not a word about the fact the Gaza strip is currently ruled by Hamas, a group with the destruction of Israel as a primary mission in their charter. It takes two to tango and there are no legitimate partners for the Israelis to make peace with.
6
How long must we read the polemics of a failed president? The "Palestinians" have never recognized Israel. They had their state given to them by the UN in 1947. Instead of building a state, as did Israel, they attacked in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973. As is obvious, these attacks were unsuccessful.
States build schools and cities, not terror tunnels. States provide for their citizens. States build for the future rather than wallowing in self-pity.
I wish that Jimmy Carter would return to his peanut farm, rather than preaching for a Palestinian state that could have existed for 68 years, but chose conflict, instead.
States build schools and cities, not terror tunnels. States provide for their citizens. States build for the future rather than wallowing in self-pity.
I wish that Jimmy Carter would return to his peanut farm, rather than preaching for a Palestinian state that could have existed for 68 years, but chose conflict, instead.
4
It would be an advantage to Israel if the Palestinians resided on their border as a sovereign state. As a sovereign state, the Palestinians would then be wholly responsible for their terrorist activity against Israel. Their terrorist activity would be acts of war at which point Israel would be free to defend itself in a way it is currently denounced for doing so as a high-tech apartheid bully. And the Palestinians deserve the chance to prove they want to live and thrive with their rich neighbor for the sake of their children and the future of their people.
Resolution 242 never intended for Israel to give back all land acquired. There are video interviews of some of its authors. The Palestinians are incapable of running their own country at this time. The key is to help build bridges leading to trust. The Israelis are willing but the Palestinians aren't. And those that are get arrested, interrogated, and killed for "conspiring" with Israel. There is no moral equivalence here.
5
My dream is that we wake to a walkaway solution to our Middle East nightmare and take the first train out. We take our $38 billion dollars and use it at home. We bring all our troops home, and wish everyone well, but as for the US, we are done trying to sort out the insane wars and passions of the Middle East.
We are hooking into insanity, and have no way to heal anything. I do love Jimmy Carter and am glad he was my President.
But sometimes there is too much crazy to sort out.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
We are hooking into insanity, and have no way to heal anything. I do love Jimmy Carter and am glad he was my President.
But sometimes there is too much crazy to sort out.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
1
America must realize that Jimma Carta and his so called Center are funded by Saudi Arabia and George Soros; among other lefty financial money launderers. One can only laugh that today, on the death of Jimmy's buddy and killer Fidel Castro goes to ground, his speech writers think that Obama can betray Israel at the end of his term. Carter's massive lies and failures in Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela, and other sites of fake Carter elections, make him the Poster boy for International failure and misery. The Pals will only advance their cause with direct negotiations with Israel. Obama should avoid any Carta recommendations, unless he wants to add more Trump reversals to his list of over reach.
3
Hey, aren't we supposed to be draining the swamp? What a terrific opportunity this could be. We move everybody out of Israel AND Palestine, stick 'em all in Utah or Wyoming for a couple of years, and then let 'em figure out terms under which they're allowed to go back where they came from, except this time with borders they've agree to. If they don't like it, they can stay in Utah or Wyoming. But they don't get to vote in American elections.
If Jimmy Carter says so, I believe him.
Believe it or not young-America, way before this last election, in a different century as a matter of fact, there was such as the truth. Sorry you never got a chance to hear it.
Believe it or not young-America, way before this last election, in a different century as a matter of fact, there was such as the truth. Sorry you never got a chance to hear it.
1
Bantustans.
That is what Apartheid South Africa came up with, homelands for the blacks of South Africa who were by birth, second class citizens.
That seems to be all mighty Israel can offer to the millions of Palestinians, Apartheid and concrete walls, in a murderous one state solution that discriminates against the Palestinian child by birth.
Netanyahu is a bully and when combined with Trump and the Republican Party, most likely the unstoppable force that will find a way to institute bantustans.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
That is what Apartheid South Africa came up with, homelands for the blacks of South Africa who were by birth, second class citizens.
That seems to be all mighty Israel can offer to the millions of Palestinians, Apartheid and concrete walls, in a murderous one state solution that discriminates against the Palestinian child by birth.
Netanyahu is a bully and when combined with Trump and the Republican Party, most likely the unstoppable force that will find a way to institute bantustans.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
1
The unreachable two-state solution provides cover for the status quo. The one-state reality has been with us for a long time now. The eventual outcome will be that everyone in Greater Israel has a vote.
This has been like the Japanese game of Go -- if you stake out more territory than you can hold, you lose the whole game. Had Israel stayed within its 1967 borders, it could have been a democratic Jewish state. Until everyone in Greater Israel has a vote, it cannot be a democratic state, and after that vote happens, it will not be a Jewish state.
This has been like the Japanese game of Go -- if you stake out more territory than you can hold, you lose the whole game. Had Israel stayed within its 1967 borders, it could have been a democratic Jewish state. Until everyone in Greater Israel has a vote, it cannot be a democratic state, and after that vote happens, it will not be a Jewish state.
There is no "two state solution", not because one isn't plausible or desirable but because the local peoples don't want it. They want it all; "it" being the land.
It's a refrain one hears constantly. I knew a Lebanese Druze man who constantly spoke about "Arab lands" as if there were no other; referring to Israel and Israelis. He insisted Jews had no right to it, to their fabled "Land of the Bible", denying their ancestors had ever resided there. Archaeological finds meant nothing to him. Even references to Jews and their Jerusalem in the Holy Qur'an meant nothing to him.
But it was no different on the other side of the great divide. Many Jews claim there is no such thing as a "Palestinian Arab" because "Arabs never lived in Palestine until recently". Some in the Settler movement believe Israel's rightful borders should fully encompass King Solomon's empire circa 850 B.C., before Persians conquered it (650 B.C.) and destroyed the First Temple. That would include much of west Jordan, southwest Syria, Lebanon as far north as Tyre if not southwest Turkey, Sinai and much of the Nile Delta's coastline if recent archaeological evidence is believed. And they are determined to have it, in Samaria by forcibly driving out Arab families from villages and homesteads inhabited for generations.
If the parties to the conflict prefer to dwell in grandiose delusions of empire, refusing to live in peace, there can be no peace, just an armistice punctuated by frequent wars; what we have now.
It's a refrain one hears constantly. I knew a Lebanese Druze man who constantly spoke about "Arab lands" as if there were no other; referring to Israel and Israelis. He insisted Jews had no right to it, to their fabled "Land of the Bible", denying their ancestors had ever resided there. Archaeological finds meant nothing to him. Even references to Jews and their Jerusalem in the Holy Qur'an meant nothing to him.
But it was no different on the other side of the great divide. Many Jews claim there is no such thing as a "Palestinian Arab" because "Arabs never lived in Palestine until recently". Some in the Settler movement believe Israel's rightful borders should fully encompass King Solomon's empire circa 850 B.C., before Persians conquered it (650 B.C.) and destroyed the First Temple. That would include much of west Jordan, southwest Syria, Lebanon as far north as Tyre if not southwest Turkey, Sinai and much of the Nile Delta's coastline if recent archaeological evidence is believed. And they are determined to have it, in Samaria by forcibly driving out Arab families from villages and homesteads inhabited for generations.
If the parties to the conflict prefer to dwell in grandiose delusions of empire, refusing to live in peace, there can be no peace, just an armistice punctuated by frequent wars; what we have now.
2
Dear President Carter,
As a graduate of the Naval Academy and a protege of Admiral Rickover, I know you are a man extremely well versed in numbers.
So please allow me to quantify Israel's predicament for you.
If President-elect Trump were to score 305 on a mental test designed to test for rationality -- the best score being 1000 for a man who is completely rational -- then the leaders of Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran would probably score somewhere in the range of 100 to 125, when tested as a group.
These figures are just my estimates of course, but I base them entirely on what I read about these gentlemen every day in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist; and what they are telling me is giving me a strong feeling that my numbers are accurate.
To sum it up Mr. President, science is telling us in capital letters that Israel is dealing with nut cases who can only be trusted to act as nut cases.
This is the heart of the matter.
With best wishes for your continued good health and that of Rosalynn’s --
Your pal,
Stanton-in-Dallas
As a graduate of the Naval Academy and a protege of Admiral Rickover, I know you are a man extremely well versed in numbers.
So please allow me to quantify Israel's predicament for you.
If President-elect Trump were to score 305 on a mental test designed to test for rationality -- the best score being 1000 for a man who is completely rational -- then the leaders of Fatah, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran would probably score somewhere in the range of 100 to 125, when tested as a group.
These figures are just my estimates of course, but I base them entirely on what I read about these gentlemen every day in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist; and what they are telling me is giving me a strong feeling that my numbers are accurate.
To sum it up Mr. President, science is telling us in capital letters that Israel is dealing with nut cases who can only be trusted to act as nut cases.
This is the heart of the matter.
With best wishes for your continued good health and that of Rosalynn’s --
Your pal,
Stanton-in-Dallas
5
Gotta love Jimmy Carter's vision. And btw I am sure I speak for everyone when I offer congratulations on your successful fight with cancer!
I can only note vis a vis this important op-ed that the Israelis are not aiming a one state solution, they are aiming directly at a one state for themselves, and a separate reservation in which Palestinians live, something like an American Indian reservation but without as much sovereignty.
I can only note vis a vis this important op-ed that the Israelis are not aiming a one state solution, they are aiming directly at a one state for themselves, and a separate reservation in which Palestinians live, something like an American Indian reservation but without as much sovereignty.
1
President Carter says the best way for a 2-state solution to have a chance to succeed is for the United States to recognize a Palestinian state. Many comments here ask why the US should take such action when Hamas won't rencounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist.
A fair question, which has bedeviled peace talks for years.
Pres. Carter suggests that with US and UN recognition, a framework for peace can be created that will assure Israeli security, and lead to diplomatic solutions.
Perhaps he is right. Perhaps it would take just such a bold move by President Obama, in the waning days of his administration, to kick start the peace process. Clearly neither Israel nor the Palestinians wish to meet the demands of the other side. Neither side has any desire or incentive to "give in."
Perhaps the combined influence of the United States - still the most powerful and respected nation on earth - and the United Nations could overcome the profound stalemate between Israel and Palestine.
Perhaps it's worth a try.
A fair question, which has bedeviled peace talks for years.
Pres. Carter suggests that with US and UN recognition, a framework for peace can be created that will assure Israeli security, and lead to diplomatic solutions.
Perhaps he is right. Perhaps it would take just such a bold move by President Obama, in the waning days of his administration, to kick start the peace process. Clearly neither Israel nor the Palestinians wish to meet the demands of the other side. Neither side has any desire or incentive to "give in."
Perhaps the combined influence of the United States - still the most powerful and respected nation on earth - and the United Nations could overcome the profound stalemate between Israel and Palestine.
Perhaps it's worth a try.
As soon as Hamas recognizes Israel's right to exist. Simple, huh?
5
I too have wanted peace and equality for all peoples in the region but after fifty years of wishing, I have come to the conclusion that Israeli political leaders who answer to their justifiably paranoid public is simply playing the political leaders of other nations, always promising to attain peace but never completing the region wide agreement necessary to stop the eastward settling and domination of the region by Israel. The Israelis are playing world leaders like a fiddle. Israelis will always migrate to other nearby lands perpetually expanding the "State" of Israel knowing they have the political and military support of America. I dearly love all people, but here the Israelis are fooling the world into loving and defending them as they aggressively abscond with Palestinian land, all the while, American leaders paying lip service to the public, always promising support of both sides and claiming to want Peace, but not acting on their words such as you did President Carter.
You of all people, should know that American military interests in the Middle East are contingent on cooperation with Israel, and Israelis know it and take advantage of it.
The most craven example of that was Speaker Boehners invitation to Netanyahu the nightmare to speak before Congress. As Netanyahu saw American support fading, he wryly made support of Israel a partisan issue that would endure for more decades. Republicans are after all, the military.
You should know that. Shalom, Peace.
You of all people, should know that American military interests in the Middle East are contingent on cooperation with Israel, and Israelis know it and take advantage of it.
The most craven example of that was Speaker Boehners invitation to Netanyahu the nightmare to speak before Congress. As Netanyahu saw American support fading, he wryly made support of Israel a partisan issue that would endure for more decades. Republicans are after all, the military.
You should know that. Shalom, Peace.
Why do so many people spend so much time talking about Israel and the so-called Palestinians and not Indonesia in East Timor, Turkey in northern Cyprus, Russia in Georgia or Crimea, Morocco in Western Sahara, Vietnam in Cambodia, Armenia in areas of Azerbaijan, etc?
Unsettled: A Global Study of Settlements in Occupied Territories
This Article provides the first comprehensive examination of state and international practice bearing on Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides that an “Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” This provision serves as the basis for criticism of Israeli settlement policy.
Clear patterns emerge from this study of state practice. First, the migration of people into occupied territory is a near-ubiquitous feature of extended belligerent occupations. Second, no occupying power has ever taken any measures to discourage or prevent such settlement activity. Third, and perhaps most strikingly, in none of these situations have the international community or international organizations described the migration of persons into the occupied territory as a violation of Art. 49(6). Finally, neither international political bodies nor the new governments of previously occupied territories have ever embraced the removal of illegally transferred civilian settlers as an appropriate remedy.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2835908
Unsettled: A Global Study of Settlements in Occupied Territories
This Article provides the first comprehensive examination of state and international practice bearing on Article 49(6) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides that an “Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.” This provision serves as the basis for criticism of Israeli settlement policy.
Clear patterns emerge from this study of state practice. First, the migration of people into occupied territory is a near-ubiquitous feature of extended belligerent occupations. Second, no occupying power has ever taken any measures to discourage or prevent such settlement activity. Third, and perhaps most strikingly, in none of these situations have the international community or international organizations described the migration of persons into the occupied territory as a violation of Art. 49(6). Finally, neither international political bodies nor the new governments of previously occupied territories have ever embraced the removal of illegally transferred civilian settlers as an appropriate remedy.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2835908
1
Oh, Dear! Former President Carter, have you forgotten the legislative history of Resolution 242? Please re-read the debates that led up to the final language for Resolution 242. By doing so, you will realize that it was never the intention that Israel give up all the land it won during The Six Day War. On October 29, 1969, for example, the British Foreign Secretary told the House of Commons the withdrawal envisaged by the resolution would not be from "all the territories." The Arab states pushed for the word "all" to be included, but this was rejected. Lord Caradon, who drafted the language for the approved resolution, when asked to explain the British position late said: "It would have been wrong to demand that Israel return to its positions of June 4, 1967, because those positions were undesirable and artificial." So, let's start with the correct meaning of those key words of the Resolution.
Yes, you are correct that Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt during your administration. Israel also signed a peace treaty with Jordan. Consequently, the only countries that are left to negotiate territories with is Lebanon and Syria. The border with Lebanon was changed after 1967. The dispute with Syria is over the Golan Heights. Assad has refused to sign a limited peace treaty unless Israel agrees to completely withdraw.
Have you thought about writing a letter to the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah about recognizing Israel's right to exist?
Yes, you are correct that Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt during your administration. Israel also signed a peace treaty with Jordan. Consequently, the only countries that are left to negotiate territories with is Lebanon and Syria. The border with Lebanon was changed after 1967. The dispute with Syria is over the Golan Heights. Assad has refused to sign a limited peace treaty unless Israel agrees to completely withdraw.
Have you thought about writing a letter to the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah about recognizing Israel's right to exist?
6
The government of the state of Israel has made a cynical calculation that the land they steal is more valuable politically than the lives of their own citizens and thus has no interest in peace. The ongoing theft of land for settlements is conducted in full knowledge that it will lead to further conflict and the death of both Israelis and Palestinians. Conflict leads to more opportunity to steal land for Israel's ever expanding population of fundamentalists who will vote the politicians who support the theft back into office. While violence on the part of Palestinians is unacceptable, so is the theft of their land. Unless the United States is willing to establish serious painful consequences for the State of Israel until all illegal settlements in the occupied territories are removed peace will remain a fantasy. Sadly President Carter's proposal will not accomplish this goal. What the government of the State of Israel is doing goes in complete contradiction to the high ethical values of the Jewish people in so many different ways. Until the Jewish community in the United states live up to their heritage and demand that our government hold the Israeli government to account, Israel's political vicious cycle will continue. Behaving ethically and according to international law is not an acceptable bargaining chip in peace negotiations and if we truly want peace we need to convince Israel's government to end the theft of Palestinian land unilaterally and without conditions.
History will judge President Carter as one of the most decent American presidents. Israel’s illegal occupation of millions of Palestinians has continued for nearly 50 years. At every point, Israelis have claimed that there could be no peace with the Palestinians. Yet President Carter enabled Israel and the strongest Arab nation, Egypt, to sign a peace agreement that has survived to the present time. In the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinians recognized the state of Israel. In their meeting in Beirut in 2002 the Arab League passed a resolution saying that the entire Arab world would recognize Israel if she abided by international law and recognized a Palestinian State in the West Bank with East Jerusalem as its capital. That resolution was later endorsed by all the 57 members of the Islamic Cooperation Council, including Iran.
Yet, rightwing Israeli governments and their apologists continue to claim that there is no Palestinian side to negotiate with. Due to the enormous power of the Israeli lobby in the United States, no US president since President Carter has been able to push for a just solution to the conflict.
Israel is in a precarious state. Continued occupation and violence is not a long-term solution. By doing what President Carter suggests, President Obama can break that deadlock and prepare the way for real progress under the next Administration. The alternative is continued bloodshed, more apartheid policies and greater isolation of Israel.
Yet, rightwing Israeli governments and their apologists continue to claim that there is no Palestinian side to negotiate with. Due to the enormous power of the Israeli lobby in the United States, no US president since President Carter has been able to push for a just solution to the conflict.
Israel is in a precarious state. Continued occupation and violence is not a long-term solution. By doing what President Carter suggests, President Obama can break that deadlock and prepare the way for real progress under the next Administration. The alternative is continued bloodshed, more apartheid policies and greater isolation of Israel.
1
No, Mr. Carter, Israel is not suicidal. In a world with 50 majority Muslim nations, and 20 or so Islamic nations, if the Palestinians cannot bear to live in the West Bank with security arrangements with Israel, they can move elsewhere. Maybe France or Sweden. I'm not even going to suggest that Hamas in Gaza would ever retreat from its stated goal of killing any Jew they can reach. You do realize, Mr. Carter, or do you even care, that there is a very good chance that in any Palestinian state Hamas would take over?
4
So, some clear advice from one President to another. While both are Nobel Peace Laureates, so far only one has done anything to earn that distinction. Perhaps Obama should listen and act.
1
I do wish that those who rant here against Israel as the "Jewish state," would take enough time to educate themselves; the fact is that Israel is a secular parliamentary democracy. Begin and Sadat were visionary in agreeing to embark on a peace process with President Carter, but both paid a high price. Sadat was assassinated; Begin was largely ostracized from a nation he fought to create and preserve. His successor in peace, Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated -- sadly, by an Israeli who disagreed with the peace process at every level.
I agree with Mr. Carter that there will be no progress toward lasting peace until the United States makes a genuine recognition of a Palestinian state, but it should be with assurance to Israel that Jerusalem can remain Israel's capital city (a major stumbling block at present).
I agree with Mr. Carter that there will be no progress toward lasting peace until the United States makes a genuine recognition of a Palestinian state, but it should be with assurance to Israel that Jerusalem can remain Israel's capital city (a major stumbling block at present).
1
Marvelous.
How about having the Arab world recognize Israel? That would be a good first step.
How about having the Arab world recognize Israel? That would be a good first step.
3
Dear President Obama,
Please, at last do something to earn that Nobel Peace Prize!
Please, at last do something to earn that Nobel Peace Prize!
7
It is hard to understand the roots of Carter's pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel position. Carter never misses an opportunity to try to bash Israel. I don't recall his moral outrage on what's going on in Syria or Iraq or world-wide Islamic extremism. Nevertheless, it's now appropriate to leave important foreign policy decisions to the new administration and stop urging Obama to make his final anti-Israel move. Obama has already done enough damage in the MIddle East. The Democrat administration is finished and they should go quietly into the night. Carter ought to worry more about America than his obsession with helping everyone except the people in his own backyard. Had Hilary and Obama focused more on the frustrated American middle class they might have won the election.
3
President Carter is absolutely right about the U.S. recognizing Palestine as a state. 100 percent right. Bless him!
Lest we forget, Pres. Jimmy Carter fired his United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young for surreptitiously meeting with a Palestinian delegation. It was not close to full American diplomatic recognition as he now suggests Pres. Obama act without the support of the American people. Obama has enough to worry about from the newly elected Trump administration over his executive action restoring full diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Forget a two-state solution to the Arab Palestinian -Israeli conflict. The U.N., with the backing of the U.S and Russia, ought to host an Arab-Israeli negotiated unified state with the U.N. as arbiter for a period of transition. The Arab factions should be considered "Front-line" parties hosted by the U.N. and backed by the U.S-Russia organizers negotiating with Israel.
Or else, predicted climate change, with rising Mediterranean waters, will unite what's left of the warring sides as the sea takes their land away. Then leaves the refugees only to continue fighting over nothing but very bitter memories.
Forget a two-state solution to the Arab Palestinian -Israeli conflict. The U.N., with the backing of the U.S and Russia, ought to host an Arab-Israeli negotiated unified state with the U.N. as arbiter for a period of transition. The Arab factions should be considered "Front-line" parties hosted by the U.N. and backed by the U.S-Russia organizers negotiating with Israel.
Or else, predicted climate change, with rising Mediterranean waters, will unite what's left of the warring sides as the sea takes their land away. Then leaves the refugees only to continue fighting over nothing but very bitter memories.
- In 2000, Israel offered to cede all of Gaza, 96 percent of the
West Bank, recognize an independent Palestinian state, and renounce parts of eastern Jerusalem. The offer was rejected.
- In 2008 Israel offered to withdraw from 98 percent of the West Bank
and the vast majority of the settlements. The offer was rejected.
The palestinians are not serious about a negotiated peace. Israel will never give up the jewish quarter of the old city, the western wall, or the settlement blocs largely located in areas near the green line that cover roughly 5 % of the West Bank that both Israel and the United States expect will remain part of Israel in any peace agreement
West Bank, recognize an independent Palestinian state, and renounce parts of eastern Jerusalem. The offer was rejected.
- In 2008 Israel offered to withdraw from 98 percent of the West Bank
and the vast majority of the settlements. The offer was rejected.
The palestinians are not serious about a negotiated peace. Israel will never give up the jewish quarter of the old city, the western wall, or the settlement blocs largely located in areas near the green line that cover roughly 5 % of the West Bank that both Israel and the United States expect will remain part of Israel in any peace agreement
4
Elegantly stated. Like President Carter, I think a one state solution will eventually prevail. But also like him I think that US recognition of Palestine NOW would facilitate getting to that one state more quickly and equitably. Otherwise I suspect we will see decades of further subordination of Palestinians in the occupied territories: those in the West Bank as voteless third class underclass members of Israeli society; those in Gaza as miserable and powerless as today.
1
When a voice such as President Carter speaks, the first thing we should all do is listen.
in 1978, Israel in a tremendous sacrifice gave up the entire sinei a land mass greater than Israel proper for peace. That shows what Israel will do for peace. Decades later they again sacrificed, forcibly removing it's own citizens causing domestic chaos when it vacated Gaza. In return, Israel got a vicious terrorist Islamic fundementalist state seeking Israel's absolute destruction written into its charter. That is the cause for failure. The Body politic of the Palestinians refysing to give up its dream of eliminating Israel.
What does the feckless UN do? nothing. Israel can never trust the UN to protect it.
What does the feckless UN do? nothing. Israel can never trust the UN to protect it.
4
Jimmy, Jimmy, you still don't get it. Israel and Egypt wanted peace and their leaders agreed. The peace that the Palestinians want is spelled "piece" and it's a big piece that they want, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan RIver. The Palestinians have never had a leadership that would negotiate a two-state peace; their leaders have all been about personal aggrandizement
6
This is a man who wrote a book falsely equating Israel's existential struggle to contain extremist Islamic terrorists living within even its recognized borders with South African "apartheid." Oh, please. When will he finally retire?
3
Carter, as usual, puts all the onus on the Israelis and none on the Palestinians. A Palestinian state should be the outcome of negotiations, and in order to achieve it, there must be concessions on both sides, not solely on Israel's side. Carter's insufferable God-talk reveals only his own messianism, not any understanding of the region's deep conflicts.
4
there is another aspect for the Palestinian authority being recognized by the US and the UN, it means that they cannot stand silent when missiles are being launched from their territory onto civilians population in Sderut or Tel Aviv or allow the ongoing construction of underground tunnels leading from Gaza to Israel in order to murder Israelis. its about time that Diplomatic efforts will be made to bring a resolution, but its also time for the international community to denounce the use of humanitarian efforts from Israel, which includes the delivery of cement that then being used to built tunnels, not schools not houses and not hospitals. the EU sent millions of Euros that were used to build those tunnels and missiles launchers. there will be a place for two states solutions when both side will behave a states and take responsibility for their civilians and their actions.
2
Since neither Hamas nor Al Fatah are capable of making the Palestinian areas function as a state, and since extending it diplomatic courtesies would simply isolate us from the Israeli government for an indefinite period, this doesn't seem like a good idea right now. It is a move away from our previous stated position that statehood for Palestine would be part of a comprehensive settlement in the region. Mr. Carter's recommendation would serve not as a spur to peace talks, but as an admission that America can no longer do anything to promote peace.
2
President Carter is absolutely correct. De-facto, Israel has annexed the West Bank, and is therefore an apartheid state, whether they like the epithet or not. Their alternative is to recognise that fact and enfranchise the Arab population, in which case they will cease to be the Jewish state envisioned by David Ben Gurion and his fellow founders.
Gaza is simply the biggest prison camp in the World. The last Israeli attack was 'like shooting fish in a barrel'. The only problem is that those 'fish' were human beings. It is America's shame that they supported that action.
Gaza is simply the biggest prison camp in the World. The last Israeli attack was 'like shooting fish in a barrel'. The only problem is that those 'fish' were human beings. It is America's shame that they supported that action.
President Carter is disingenuous in the extreme. The Arabs of the West Bank and Gaza have made abundantly clear that this is mot really a boundary dispute, but continued rejection of Israel's right to exist. I tho,I even some other Arab countries are coming to understand that which President Carter willfully ignores.
3
I think Mr.Carter should go back to be a peanut farmer. The various factions of Palestinians are still clamoring for getting rid of the State of Israel. Until all of these factions unequivocally - in both English and Arabic - accept and respect the existence of the State of Israel, the United States should not recognize a Palestinian state.
4
As soon as the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist, then talks will move forward. I hope for their sake they hurry. More and more land will be continue to be encroached upon for settlements, and then it will be impossible to be returned. Hamas is not helping matters, and they give the Israelis a perfect example of why land should not be returned without peace assurances. Hamas has turned Gaza into a living hell. Do you think Israel wants to see that repeated in the West Bank?
2
Our arrogance astonishes me. Our politicians (including our current Secretary of State) say "listen to me. I'll waive my magic wand and a solution is at hand." Hah. Jimmy Carter says recognize Palestine and then what happens? Peace occurs? Hatred abates? I think not. We can't solve an eight year schism between our own parties and Jimmy Carter says we can solve a millenniums long conflict by saying "recognize Palestine". Please spare me.
1
Americans has been taken for a ride. We have been working on a 2 state goal since the beginning .. what? 50 years. The settlements were always illegal.. internationally. The fact the Israel kept building settlements.. proves they were never interested in peace only land. The only thing I know about the Palestinians what our media tells us.. they don't want peace. But how do you know this? The Palestinians have been living in a open prison for... 50 years?
The fact they don't like Israel.. is understandable.
If there is not going to be 2 states.. then America's work is done.
The fact they don't like Israel.. is understandable.
If there is not going to be 2 states.. then America's work is done.
1
Thank you, President Carter. Your advice and leadership is needed. Please call Trump and offer some ideas.
1
One: Carter's dreaming. Will never happen. Obama doesn't have the guts, Trump the inclination, and Congress is paid to vote the other way.
Two: this is your fault, Jimmy. Taking the word of Menachem Begin was your big mistake -- and a pretty stupid one, too. The Sinai was nothing, it was always the West Bank, stupid, stupid, stupid.
Three: yes, your reference to international law as the basis for a solution. Too late, but at least ONCE those words have appeared in a NY Times editorial on the subject.
Two: this is your fault, Jimmy. Taking the word of Menachem Begin was your big mistake -- and a pretty stupid one, too. The Sinai was nothing, it was always the West Bank, stupid, stupid, stupid.
Three: yes, your reference to international law as the basis for a solution. Too late, but at least ONCE those words have appeared in a NY Times editorial on the subject.
Why must either be recognized? The entire Middle East is a US-UK-RU satrapy and may as well stay that way as it is incapable of self-government, except to the extent that the US-IL symbiosis is so entrenched in US institutions that the DHS, for example, has become the "IDF in drag." Both countries have become psychologically like the character in the movie "Enemy:" each believes the other half is real, but neither can break away from its infantile dependence and fantasy. Otherwise, a traditional two-state arrangement rests fundamentally on the retirement of Netanyahu and the Liku party, followed by a strong center-left coalition that rejects the GWOT. Unfortunately, while the 2001 neoconservative syndication is extant, that remains problematic, and hence why Carter is persona non-grata in policy circles: Buba is no mensch.
1
JIMMY, I think it's fine that people wish to recognize the Palestinians. But just remember that when you took a position to criticize Israel for defending itself against rockets, you saw the wreckage and offered your sincere apologies. Recognizing Palestine before the Palestinians are prepared to behave in a civilized manner is going to compound the chaos and bloodshed in the Mideast. Would it really benefit Palestinians to go from the oppression in Gaza and the West bank to the destruction of Aleppo and elsewhere? I know it is unjust for the Palestinians be oppressed for so long. It bears mention, nonetheless that the trillions of petro dollars were never used help the Palestinians improve their lives. They were exploited, given money for new homes if their kids blew themselves in Israel. Such cycles of violence supported by petro-dollars are no foundation for building a civil society. And you know it.
1
The Arabs on the West Bank will never be allowed to vote in Israeli elections. A one state solution means apartheid. A two-state solution is dead, Netanyahu does not want it. The Palestinians don't trust the US to play the role of honest broker, the US is clearly looking out for Israel.
When the P.A. held elections, did the Jews in the West Bank get to vote?
At this time, the West Bank is a separate Palestinian Arab entity, with an elected government (even if it no longer allows elections) and representation in the UN.
The Arabs cannot be both a separate entity and demand Israeli citizenship. That is absurd.
Even if Israel withdrew to the 1967 lines (actually the 1949 Armistice line - it has never been a recognized border), the fact is that Abbas will not promise to end the conflict. So what sort of agreement would be fair or reached by an "honest broker"?
Until the Arab world accepts that coexistence with Jews is something that has to be accepted, there can be no agreement that will mean anything.
At this time, the West Bank is a separate Palestinian Arab entity, with an elected government (even if it no longer allows elections) and representation in the UN.
The Arabs cannot be both a separate entity and demand Israeli citizenship. That is absurd.
Even if Israel withdrew to the 1967 lines (actually the 1949 Armistice line - it has never been a recognized border), the fact is that Abbas will not promise to end the conflict. So what sort of agreement would be fair or reached by an "honest broker"?
Until the Arab world accepts that coexistence with Jews is something that has to be accepted, there can be no agreement that will mean anything.
1
I just want to thank Mr. Carter for his article.
Such move will make an immense impression on Israel.
The young generation is growing with very little understanding
and no interest in Palestine. Life is good in Israeli cities and
the status quo works well for folks. Israeli don't care much
about what the settlers are doing to Palestinians.
This new policy will shake people and force them to think.
Such move will make an immense impression on Israel.
The young generation is growing with very little understanding
and no interest in Palestine. Life is good in Israeli cities and
the status quo works well for folks. Israeli don't care much
about what the settlers are doing to Palestinians.
This new policy will shake people and force them to think.
It is too late. There is only a one-state solution: Israel will now be the only nation, committed not to democracy but to primacy to its Jewish residents the way South Africa under apartheid was committed only to primacy of its white residents. Israel might as well simply annex Gaza and the remaining West Bank and declare itself the only ruler over all that land. Very soon Jewish residents of Greater Israel will be a minority. As a Jewish-American, I want Israel to be exposed to the world as an undemocratic state dedicated to religious, racial and ethnic superiority.
Here in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, some of our local rabbis who participate in groups like Neturei Karta oppose the existence of the state of Israel as against the Torah. I do not know enough to comment on this, but I do know apartheid when I see it, and Jimmy Carter was correct to call the current arrangement apartheid. Why doesn't Israel just drop the hypocrisy and declare itself the sole state in the region?
Here in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, some of our local rabbis who participate in groups like Neturei Karta oppose the existence of the state of Israel as against the Torah. I do not know enough to comment on this, but I do know apartheid when I see it, and Jimmy Carter was correct to call the current arrangement apartheid. Why doesn't Israel just drop the hypocrisy and declare itself the sole state in the region?
1
As president, Jimmy Carter almost sabotaged the peace agreement between Begin and Sadat when he insisted that the US party to the Israeli-Egyptian peace agreement, which up to that point had been negotiated in secret by only the Egyptian and Israeli leaders. History in the Middle East has proved that the US inserting itself where it is unwanted does not necessarily help matters and may inflame politics. A solution negotiated quietly between Israelis and Palestinians actually living in the region is the only peace that has a chance of holding.
2
In late 2000 Yasir Arafat was offered 97% of what he asked for to create a new state. He said no to Pres Clinton and Israeli PM Barack. What followed was 3 years of State sponsored terrorism against Israeli citizens in Israel-proper. Can we blame the Israelis to take steps to secure their future without a meaningful partner for peace?
4
There can be no recognition of Palestine until that side definitively and decisively promises, swears, and honors the fact that it will leave Israel to live in peace. Period.
3
So Jimmy Carter wants another terrorist state next door to Israel, just like Hamas in Gaza? It is ironic that Carter published this editorial days after Palestinian terrorists set fires to Israel.
3
As a jew I believe that what Pres Carter recommends is essential to Israel's survival. The alternative is an apartheid state that will ultimately become isolated as an international pariah. The demographics of a "one state solution" is that the majority will end up being Palestinian.
1
How does one propose peace with someone whose stated aim is the others destruction?
3
Yes, the US should act immediately as President Carter suggests. It is the thing we should certainly do at this critical time. Let's do this now to honor President Carter - an extremely fair and honest man.
1
You cite President Obama's 2011 statement that "negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine" but then glide over the key part of that statement which is the phrase "negoitations should result in two states." That's right, "negotiations" - not gratuitous undeserved international recognition of a Palestinian state without a demand from Palestinians for anything of substance in return. It's touching that the "primary foreign policy goal" of your life has been to help bring peace to Israel and its neighbors. Unfortunately, Palestinian terrorism and intransigence has made it unlikely that you will see the desired peace in your lifetime. But nice try.
4
Such articles strike me as too self serving, pretending to helping the Palestinians, while knowing very well that it is Israel that calls the shots (literary). By now it is more than clear that both Gaza and the West Bank, in the eyes of Israel, are part of Israel. We all have been taken by the nose since 1947 and things will only get worse. Admit that first, let it think in, stop giving billions every year to Israel, and stop being a servant to that 7 million inhabitant little country.
1
"... would intensify international condemnation of Israel..." This is a joke. The "international community" in the body of the United Nations has proven itself to be incapable of impartial observation of the situation. If Israel pays attention to "international condemnation" it will cease to exist. It was created under the auspices of the international community, has more legitimacy than most nations, and now that same community wants to destroy it. During Israel's existence, before and after statehood, it has been chipped away repeatedly. In 1967 they won territory in a war of aggression against them, returned most of it, but held onto territory necessary for security. You want a two-state solution? There is a Palestinian State already. It's called Jordan. Jimmy Carter, one of the most ineffectual presidents the US has ever had, would do better to keep building houses for Habitat for Humanity. There, he at least did some real good.
3
Repeatedly, and throughout history, there has been unilateral rejection of a Jewish State in the Middle East. With the exception of Egypt - a cold peace - land for peace as produced more wars. The country of Jordan is a modern day fiction, and Syria is a mess. The leaders of the Palestinians are corrupt, by their own admission. Who could trust such a regime.
The fact that Mr. Carter has the gall to label Israel an apartheid regime betrays his inability to see the situation clearly.
The fact that Mr. Carter has the gall to label Israel an apartheid regime betrays his inability to see the situation clearly.
3
Many comments echo tired excuses for doing nothing to bring about a lasting peace: terrorism, lack of a cohesive Palestinian interlocutor, one side or the other doesn’t want peace and so on. Doing nothing cements the status quo; which cannot be in Israel long term benefit.
23 years ago, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators hammered out a set of accords aimed at negotiating a solution to the conflict. The Oslo accords, resulted in Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat receiving the Nobel Peace prize in 1994. The PLO recognized the right of Israel to exist and renounced the use of terrorism. Israel recognized an autonomous Palestinian authority in the West Bank and Gaza.
Eextremists on both sides did not want the accords to succeed. Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli Jew a year after the accords and Binyamin Netanyahu, a harsh critic of the accords, defeated Peres in the following Israeli elections. Since then, the situation just kept on deteriorating. The current trajectory points to inevitable apartheid, which will never be overtly declared but is covertly tolerated.
Keeping in perspective the immense imbalance of power between Israel and the Palestinians, it would be gracious if the stronger party made efforts at resurrecting the spirit of Oslo. The proposed US recognition of a Palestinian State may be just the needed nudge to make this happen.
23 years ago, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators hammered out a set of accords aimed at negotiating a solution to the conflict. The Oslo accords, resulted in Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat receiving the Nobel Peace prize in 1994. The PLO recognized the right of Israel to exist and renounced the use of terrorism. Israel recognized an autonomous Palestinian authority in the West Bank and Gaza.
Eextremists on both sides did not want the accords to succeed. Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli Jew a year after the accords and Binyamin Netanyahu, a harsh critic of the accords, defeated Peres in the following Israeli elections. Since then, the situation just kept on deteriorating. The current trajectory points to inevitable apartheid, which will never be overtly declared but is covertly tolerated.
Keeping in perspective the immense imbalance of power between Israel and the Palestinians, it would be gracious if the stronger party made efforts at resurrecting the spirit of Oslo. The proposed US recognition of a Palestinian State may be just the needed nudge to make this happen.
Naive. That's all. Rewarding Hamas...a terrorist organization...with a charter to kill all Jews/Israelis...is not the appropriate gift for spewing hate and shooting thousands of rockets into Israel and building tunnels into Israel to kill Jewish Israelis...
I respect that jimmy carter has dedicated his life to helping others . He just shouldn't be dedicating his reputation to helping terrorists.
I respect that jimmy carter has dedicated his life to helping others . He just shouldn't be dedicating his reputation to helping terrorists.
3
Mr. Carter sadly has grown more naive as the years pass. That area will never know peace no matter how many ideas are thrown in the sand .
2
Mr. Carter doesn't seem to realize that a half-century of Israeli efforts to make a Palestinian state utterly impossible have succeeded. Continuing to talk at this late date about a two-state solution just plays into the Israeli tactic of delay, delay, delay. Now there's just one Israel, containing 165 Bantustans -- the encircled Palestinian towns of Areas A and B.
The truth about Israel was well expressed by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak in 2010: “As long as in this territory west of the Jordan River there is only one political entity called Israel, it is going to be either non-Jewish, or non-democratic. If this bloc of millions of Palestinians cannot vote, that will be an apartheid state.”
It is time for activists to start pressuring Israel to end its racist policy of granting the vote to whites in Judea and Samaria -- but not to their neighbours of Arab ancestry. Neighbours who sometimes live directly across the street, as in Hebron.
A number of works explore this inevitability, such as Ali Abunimah's 2006 book One Country.
The truth about Israel was well expressed by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak in 2010: “As long as in this territory west of the Jordan River there is only one political entity called Israel, it is going to be either non-Jewish, or non-democratic. If this bloc of millions of Palestinians cannot vote, that will be an apartheid state.”
It is time for activists to start pressuring Israel to end its racist policy of granting the vote to whites in Judea and Samaria -- but not to their neighbours of Arab ancestry. Neighbours who sometimes live directly across the street, as in Hebron.
A number of works explore this inevitability, such as Ali Abunimah's 2006 book One Country.
Why is Israel called the "Jewish state" by Western media? The AP made this policy change years ago and most Western media followed. It sounds very illiberal and undemocratic, doesn't it?
Did everyone forget about the Muslim citizens of Israel? They're not Jewish but they live, in large numbers, inside Israel, a citizens (albeit second class). And there's the rub, isn't it? Isn't calling Israel a "Jewish state" perpetuating aparthi..d? (That's a bad word around here. I think Jimmy Carter was sued by Israelis for saying it, if you can believe that)
Can a state with 20%, 40% or 60% Muslim citizens be called a "Jewish state"? How can it be? It's not, in reality, a Jewish state so why call it that? Language is powerful and we should be careful how we use it, particularly the media, who implement these policy changes in back rooms. Should the United States be called the "Christian state"? How would that make our Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist. Atheist, and agnostics feel? Left out perhaps? I bet some white Americans would like to call the United States the "Caucasian state", but we don't because that would be absurd.
Yet, Israel and Western media has signed onto this very provocative language that disenfranchises a large swath of Israel's population.
Did everyone forget about the Muslim citizens of Israel? They're not Jewish but they live, in large numbers, inside Israel, a citizens (albeit second class). And there's the rub, isn't it? Isn't calling Israel a "Jewish state" perpetuating aparthi..d? (That's a bad word around here. I think Jimmy Carter was sued by Israelis for saying it, if you can believe that)
Can a state with 20%, 40% or 60% Muslim citizens be called a "Jewish state"? How can it be? It's not, in reality, a Jewish state so why call it that? Language is powerful and we should be careful how we use it, particularly the media, who implement these policy changes in back rooms. Should the United States be called the "Christian state"? How would that make our Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist. Atheist, and agnostics feel? Left out perhaps? I bet some white Americans would like to call the United States the "Caucasian state", but we don't because that would be absurd.
Yet, Israel and Western media has signed onto this very provocative language that disenfranchises a large swath of Israel's population.
Don't the Muslim citizens of Israel have the same right to worship as everyone else? Are there not Islamic religious councils to judge disputes for the MCI based on Islamic law? Are there benches or restaurants or buses or trains that deny the MCI entry?
The accusation that Israel is an "apartheid" state is based on a single lie, that the West Bank, Gaza and Israel are actually a single state. No matter how often someone uses the word "apartheid" it does not make it true.
The accusation that Israel is an "apartheid" state is based on a single lie, that the West Bank, Gaza and Israel are actually a single state. No matter how often someone uses the word "apartheid" it does not make it true.
1
Thank you President Carter. I have followed J Street to educate myself on the
complicated Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A two state solution must be supported
by granting an American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, now.
We can not allow the incoming administration to undo the progress that has been made. We can not afford to take a step backwards.
complicated Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A two state solution must be supported
by granting an American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, now.
We can not allow the incoming administration to undo the progress that has been made. We can not afford to take a step backwards.
The difference between the Egypt-Israel peace treaty and the one that President Carter is dreaming about now is that then, both sides did not question the other's right to exist. Peace between the Palestinians and Israelis cannot and will not happen in a vacumn. While some/many/most of the Palestinians would be willing to tolerate Israel as a Jewish state, living in peace next door to their own country, unfortunately virtually all of the surrounding Arab (and Persian) nations would not. For those countires (and their proxy militant forces Hamas and Hezballah already entrenched in "Palestine") the establishment of side by side Jewish and Palestinian states would be another step towards the eradication of the Jewish state. President Carter seems to forget this simple fact more and more as he gets older. He was a good man with a kind heart who has lost his way.
2
Last month we agreed to give billions upon billions to Israel for free. The only stipulation is that they spend it on weapons, also from the US. And there you go, that's why the US will never recognize Palestine.
The only real question is what should be done with the Palestinians.
The 1967 boundaries have been taken over by settlers to such an extent that there's no turning back. Every day, 'security killings' and home demolitions further marginalize Palestinians. Yet people still say they don't want peace.
Israel has the world's fourth most powerful army and is unconditionally supported by the world's only super power. Hamas, a collection of homicidal (and suicidal) idiots, continues to launch occasional missiles made from fertilizer and diesel fuel. They often drive around Gaza in donkey carts - yet we're supposed to believe their military threat is equal to Israel's.
The current hard line Israeli government wants all of Jerusalem and all of Judea/Samaria - not something the original 1948 United Nations resolution even considered.
It's clear that Israel, with American support, will have its way. So be it. But let's look for a solution to the fate of indigenous people in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Palestinians still living in refugee camps, as they have since 1948, in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Why do I use the word 'indigenous'? Because the people we're talking about have inhabited Palestine for at least two or three thousand years. They have no ancestral home to which they can return.
Continuing to discuss a two-state solution is counter-productive. That ship has sailed. The only remaining question is where shall the Palestinians live?
The 1967 boundaries have been taken over by settlers to such an extent that there's no turning back. Every day, 'security killings' and home demolitions further marginalize Palestinians. Yet people still say they don't want peace.
Israel has the world's fourth most powerful army and is unconditionally supported by the world's only super power. Hamas, a collection of homicidal (and suicidal) idiots, continues to launch occasional missiles made from fertilizer and diesel fuel. They often drive around Gaza in donkey carts - yet we're supposed to believe their military threat is equal to Israel's.
The current hard line Israeli government wants all of Jerusalem and all of Judea/Samaria - not something the original 1948 United Nations resolution even considered.
It's clear that Israel, with American support, will have its way. So be it. But let's look for a solution to the fate of indigenous people in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Palestinians still living in refugee camps, as they have since 1948, in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Why do I use the word 'indigenous'? Because the people we're talking about have inhabited Palestine for at least two or three thousand years. They have no ancestral home to which they can return.
Continuing to discuss a two-state solution is counter-productive. That ship has sailed. The only remaining question is where shall the Palestinians live?
The world community has stood by waiting and hoping for the two-state solution to become a reality and bring peace to that region. Presidents Carter and Clinton worked very hard at it also. While it was an admirable goal in the 70's, it no longer is viable. The cause of all that grief is the disputed borders and Jerusalem. So, dissolve that issue, create a one-state of Israel, West Bank and Gaza, with some type of powersharing, but a common Govt., world/UN recognition, economic help, even some UN military presence if necessary. Surely, their combined country would have no enemies to fight then (with ISIL gone and Iran as a partner), and they can live in peace. It is an intellectual, emotional, political barrier to subsume the state of Israel into it, but all the peoples of the combined nation will have a strong self-interest to move away from conflict and refocus on the quality of life for themselves and their future generations.
Israel itself has moved away from the noble motivations of its creation in '48 and Palestinians have suffered enough. Besides, that region is less strategic to the US and EU now. One combined will eliminate the main motivation for all terror groups. Israel will have to be persuaded by all means possible.
This will require some thinking/doing outside the (sand)Box, but it could work, quite well, in fact. I'd even be ok if the US spent some of my tax dollars to make that option succeed.
Israel itself has moved away from the noble motivations of its creation in '48 and Palestinians have suffered enough. Besides, that region is less strategic to the US and EU now. One combined will eliminate the main motivation for all terror groups. Israel will have to be persuaded by all means possible.
This will require some thinking/doing outside the (sand)Box, but it could work, quite well, in fact. I'd even be ok if the US spent some of my tax dollars to make that option succeed.
1
Roll back the illegal settlements.
While he is at it, why not call upon the US and the UN to recognize ISIS and a 2-state solution for Syria and Iraq? Since Mr. Carter doesn't care that Hamas is a terror organization that will never accept any Jews in Israel and that the PA has rejected prior offers for a 2-state deal, lets just legitimize all terrorists and their evil aims.
"If Palestine were to lay down their guns tomorrow, there would be no war. If Israel were to lay down theirs, there would be no Israel" - Benjamin Netanyahu
"If Palestine were to lay down their guns tomorrow, there would be no war. If Israel were to lay down theirs, there would be no Israel" - Benjamin Netanyahu
2
Jimmy Carter, the man who harbored the Shaw of Iran in the U.S. and the Middle East and the U.S. were never the same again. It was for the worst. I (and many others) do not respect this man.
2
In his op-ed, It is not what President Carter says – rather, what he does not say.
a) UNR 242 does say “the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war”. The word “the” (Territory) was intentionally omitted by the drafters to leave room for parties to negotiate over exact marking of final borders.
b) US support of unilateral declaration of “State Palestine” will bring Israel’s crown Jewel Hebrew University & Jews holiest site in Jerusalem under Palestinian control – absolutely unacceptable premise for any Jew – not only Israelis.
c) Unfortunately he neglects to mention Palestinians demand for Right-of-Return to 5.5M Palestinians refugees into Israel – overwhelm this state of 8.2M people
d) “PLO’s Ten Point Program was drafted by PLO in 1974.
1. Through demography, Hamas would gain control of Jordan & Israel. With its use of One-man, One-vote, One-time, Hamas would use Israel’s own democracy to destroy its democracy.
2. Merge West-Bank, Gaza, Israel & Jordan into one “state of Palestine”.
3. Immediately control Israel’s Military & nuclear program, which would allow the Mullahs in Iran direct access through defense treaty with this fundamentalist country.
Israel is the only territory in which Palestinians are a minorities. That explains PLO & Hamas instance Israel commit suicide and absorb people, whom have been indoctrinated by blind religious and nationalistic fervor to “hate Jews” and “throw them into the sea”.
a) UNR 242 does say “the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war”. The word “the” (Territory) was intentionally omitted by the drafters to leave room for parties to negotiate over exact marking of final borders.
b) US support of unilateral declaration of “State Palestine” will bring Israel’s crown Jewel Hebrew University & Jews holiest site in Jerusalem under Palestinian control – absolutely unacceptable premise for any Jew – not only Israelis.
c) Unfortunately he neglects to mention Palestinians demand for Right-of-Return to 5.5M Palestinians refugees into Israel – overwhelm this state of 8.2M people
d) “PLO’s Ten Point Program was drafted by PLO in 1974.
1. Through demography, Hamas would gain control of Jordan & Israel. With its use of One-man, One-vote, One-time, Hamas would use Israel’s own democracy to destroy its democracy.
2. Merge West-Bank, Gaza, Israel & Jordan into one “state of Palestine”.
3. Immediately control Israel’s Military & nuclear program, which would allow the Mullahs in Iran direct access through defense treaty with this fundamentalist country.
Israel is the only territory in which Palestinians are a minorities. That explains PLO & Hamas instance Israel commit suicide and absorb people, whom have been indoctrinated by blind religious and nationalistic fervor to “hate Jews” and “throw them into the sea”.
3
Sounds inspired Mr. Carter. Now all you have to do is find a reasonable government by and for the Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza to govern the "great state of Palestine." I'm not sure about Hamas though; actually I am sure- they are a bunch of terroristic murderers. And I'm not sure of the West Bank government either; actually I am sure- they are bunch of craven kleptocrats who care less for their people than the Israelis do. When you find a government over there that isn't a bunch of murderous thieves, then maybe the Israelis can make a deal with them and voila- Palestine.
4
Recognize who, where, and as what?
There has never been a sovereign country of Palestine, so why is it on the US or Israel to create one? There is a peace, both by treaty and practice, between Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. What had been Jordan, the West Bank, is someplace Jordan does not want and will not administer or absorb. Same with Gaza and Egypt.
The occupied territory of the West Bank, and the UNoccupied territory of Gaza, both remain at war with Israel, and have no intention of establishing a real peace. Just look at what they teach their children. So let them continue in limbo, as they have, until they decide what future among nations they want, and how they intend to negotiate a way there.
There has never been a sovereign country of Palestine, so why is it on the US or Israel to create one? There is a peace, both by treaty and practice, between Israel, Jordan, and Egypt. What had been Jordan, the West Bank, is someplace Jordan does not want and will not administer or absorb. Same with Gaza and Egypt.
The occupied territory of the West Bank, and the UNoccupied territory of Gaza, both remain at war with Israel, and have no intention of establishing a real peace. Just look at what they teach their children. So let them continue in limbo, as they have, until they decide what future among nations they want, and how they intend to negotiate a way there.
3
Bravo! You are absolutely right Mr.Carter.
I still think that the two state solution is the best solution to this issue, at least for now. Ideally, the two state solution would lead to some kind of federal system between the two states. However, there is no question that Israel is doing all it can to render this impossible. Of course, if it does this, Israel will solidify its status as an apartheid state. I completely agree that, at this point, the best the US can do is recognize Palestine and stop preventing the UN from laying out the basic parameters of what a final solution would look like. While it may take quite a while, there may, eventually, be an Israeli government that is willing to make genuine peace with the Palestinians.
The timing of this op ed is astounding and leads me to believe that the Israeli newspapers are correct in their prediction that our outgoing President will stab them in the back at the UN. I originally read those opinions in disbelief. After 8 years of failure - and 38 years of President Carter's failure - no one takes one last swipe unless they want to create a problem for their successor. Aha. So be it. Obama thinks he will now kill two birds with one stone. Netanyahu and Trump.
Wouldn't it be perfect for that plan to fail and peace to be brokered in spite of the failed Presidents insisting that their solution is the best.
Let's all hope for peace in the Middle East and everywhere.
Wouldn't it be perfect for that plan to fail and peace to be brokered in spite of the failed Presidents insisting that their solution is the best.
Let's all hope for peace in the Middle East and everywhere.
2
Jimmy Carter is loving the Palestinians to death. He is telling them not to give up an inch of territory. The Palestinians should understand that they have to compromise on the issues of borders and of the right of descendants of refugees to return if they really want an independent state. The Palestinians are the only independence movement in history that has rejected a state of its own because of a boundary dispute.
Israel created an independent Palestinian mini-state when it withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Ariel Sharon said that if things worked out, Israel would withdraw from most of the West Bank. Anti-Israel hatred then zoomed up all over the world.
Israel created an independent Palestinian mini-state when it withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Ariel Sharon said that if things worked out, Israel would withdraw from most of the West Bank. Anti-Israel hatred then zoomed up all over the world.
4
Jimmy Carter is evidently ignorant of the facts. The Arabs in the area who are falsely known as Palestinians do not want a two-state solution. They want all of the land which was assigned to Israel by the UN. They make no secret about it. They openly talk about the taking the land all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. The current residents of the West Bank and Gaza are not exiles from what is now Isreal. Some may be great grandchildren of the refugees and other assorted relatives. This group is the only one on earth with its own UN refugee welfare system where the great children and any adoptees have refugee status. All other groups lose that status after five years.
So, Jimmy, how can one make peace with an enemy that openly preaches destruction and annihilation of your country? Instead of pressuring Israel, pressure the Arabs living in the area to accept that Israel is there to stay and they have to accept that. Stop the stockpiling of weapons and tunnel building by Hamas. Stop the openly hostile rhetoric of Iran. Maybe after that, there can be a peaceful solution. If there is no peace, it is totally the fault of the Arabs and their hostile neighbors. Arafat was offered 95% of what he wanted when Pres. Clinton was in office. He didn't take the offer. In spite of the stupid UNESCO resolution, Israel will never give up the Temple Mount. Let the Arabs make all the concessions this time. If there is no peace it is their fault.
So, Jimmy, how can one make peace with an enemy that openly preaches destruction and annihilation of your country? Instead of pressuring Israel, pressure the Arabs living in the area to accept that Israel is there to stay and they have to accept that. Stop the stockpiling of weapons and tunnel building by Hamas. Stop the openly hostile rhetoric of Iran. Maybe after that, there can be a peaceful solution. If there is no peace, it is totally the fault of the Arabs and their hostile neighbors. Arafat was offered 95% of what he wanted when Pres. Clinton was in office. He didn't take the offer. In spite of the stupid UNESCO resolution, Israel will never give up the Temple Mount. Let the Arabs make all the concessions this time. If there is no peace it is their fault.
4
The most gutsy ex president the US has.
Kudos to Mr Carter and the NYT for this article.
A two state solution is the sole viable long-term peaceful resolution. One hopes we get there sooner rather than later but it seems close to impossible with the ultra nationalistic populist tone shouted out by Netanyahu & Co.
Kudos to Mr Carter and the NYT for this article.
A two state solution is the sole viable long-term peaceful resolution. One hopes we get there sooner rather than later but it seems close to impossible with the ultra nationalistic populist tone shouted out by Netanyahu & Co.
Why is it that no one is willing to state Israel is an apartheid state? The definition of apartheid is restricting a group of people from property ownership. It has nothing to do with race or religion; that's discrimination not apartheid. Palestine will never be its own state as long as apartheid is policy in Israel and no one calls them out on it.
This is well-meaning and peace loving but I fear President Carter's suggestion is happening too late: the one apartheid state is already in existence. The peace camp lost to Netanyahu (who is considered by Leah Rabin to have been responsible for I. Rabin's assassination). The Israeli PM is a kind of Trump, indeed he is friends with him in spite of the anti-Semitism of Bannon & Co.
The radical right has brought into existence the very thing they say they wanted to avoid. Killing the two-state solution means there will be violence and injustice in the apartheid state.
As Oscar Wilde said: "There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst".
The radical right has brought into existence the very thing they say they wanted to avoid. Killing the two-state solution means there will be violence and injustice in the apartheid state.
As Oscar Wilde said: "There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. The last is much the worst".
Thank you, Mr. President, for your clearly heartfelt efforts on behalf of peace.
To the several commenters who've said things like "a settlement never killed anyone," that's just not true. Even if you don't count Palestinians as people, you should at least remember Rachel Corrie.
Having said all that, the land west of the 1967 border was stolen from the Palestinians just as much as the land east of the border. A truly just solution would be a secular, democratic state from the Jordan to the sea, with reparations to all the Palestinians displaced from their land since 1949. Maybe it would have to have a bicameral legislature with one house apportioned by religion, and of course its constitution would enshrine freedom of religion.
About terrorism: Terrorism is the last resort of a powerless people. I'm sure the Palestinians would love to have, like Israel, nuclear weapons to defend themselves, but they don't. I don't /like/ terrorism, but I can't condemn all of Palestine because some of its people feel they have no other choice. (And it's very hypocritical for Israelis to complain about terrorism considering the history of anti-British terrorism by pre-Israel Zionists, such as the Irgun and Haganah.)
About into-the-sea rhetoric: As of this month, Americans are no longer allowed to complain about exaggerated rhetoric from other countries' leaders. And I much prefer Arab rhetorical threats to the /actual/ Israeli violence.
(Btw, I am an atheist from a Jewish family.)
To the several commenters who've said things like "a settlement never killed anyone," that's just not true. Even if you don't count Palestinians as people, you should at least remember Rachel Corrie.
Having said all that, the land west of the 1967 border was stolen from the Palestinians just as much as the land east of the border. A truly just solution would be a secular, democratic state from the Jordan to the sea, with reparations to all the Palestinians displaced from their land since 1949. Maybe it would have to have a bicameral legislature with one house apportioned by religion, and of course its constitution would enshrine freedom of religion.
About terrorism: Terrorism is the last resort of a powerless people. I'm sure the Palestinians would love to have, like Israel, nuclear weapons to defend themselves, but they don't. I don't /like/ terrorism, but I can't condemn all of Palestine because some of its people feel they have no other choice. (And it's very hypocritical for Israelis to complain about terrorism considering the history of anti-British terrorism by pre-Israel Zionists, such as the Irgun and Haganah.)
About into-the-sea rhetoric: As of this month, Americans are no longer allowed to complain about exaggerated rhetoric from other countries' leaders. And I much prefer Arab rhetorical threats to the /actual/ Israeli violence.
(Btw, I am an atheist from a Jewish family.)
51
Arab RHETORICAL threats? Rhetorical rockets? Rhetorical bombs and stabbings? Really? There is enough blame to go around, but please do not call these acts, RHETORICAL. I am speechless.
2
How does Israel steal land in the course of winning a defensive war? Judea and Samaria would still be part of Jordan if Jordan had not invaded Israel in 1967.
2
It is ironic that Carter calls for peace when it can be said Carter was one of the principle instigators of the continuing division in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. In the 1990's he wrote a book accusing Israel, a democratic country, and most importantly with an independent judiciary, of being an apartheid nation.
To my mind, Carter's choice of the word "apartheid" to describe Israel showed an extreme ignorance of what in reality apartheid was in South Africa.
This word, with its deeply negative connotations, and which has no grounding in reality to describe Israel, was picked up by the left as an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian slogan.
Twenty-five years later, Carter's one-sided portrait of Israel has been widely adopted. Despite the fact that nowhere else in the middle east except Israel can Jews and Arabs live and work side by side, this false label sticks. Today Israel is loudly condemned around the world for being an apartheid country.
It is very clear that with Jimmy Carter's help the propaganda war against Israel has been won by the Palestinians. This propaganda victory has emboldened the Hamas, grounded in virulent anti-Semitism, to keep terrorizing Israel and preventing a meaningful peace between the Palestinians and Jews.
To my mind, Carter's choice of the word "apartheid" to describe Israel showed an extreme ignorance of what in reality apartheid was in South Africa.
This word, with its deeply negative connotations, and which has no grounding in reality to describe Israel, was picked up by the left as an anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian slogan.
Twenty-five years later, Carter's one-sided portrait of Israel has been widely adopted. Despite the fact that nowhere else in the middle east except Israel can Jews and Arabs live and work side by side, this false label sticks. Today Israel is loudly condemned around the world for being an apartheid country.
It is very clear that with Jimmy Carter's help the propaganda war against Israel has been won by the Palestinians. This propaganda victory has emboldened the Hamas, grounded in virulent anti-Semitism, to keep terrorizing Israel and preventing a meaningful peace between the Palestinians and Jews.
7
Which Palestine Mr. Carter? The one ruled by Hamas or the one allegedly ruled by the PA? Sorry only bilateral talks between the parties will result in the country of Palestine, not unilateral recognition by the US or any other country or union.
4
Please Jimmy, enough already!
4
Your article begins on a deceptive note. Israel was supposed to withdraw from "territories" not "all territories." The wording was deliberate. And if we are going to lay out the parameters of the deal why not make it clear to the Palestinians that none of them will be returning to Israel proper? Why are you dictating only the Israeli compromises?
4
The US government is incapable of being a fair intermediary-- we are Israel's enabler and that is unlikely to change under Trump. It certainly wouldn't have changed under Clinton.
The Palestinians should demand one man one vote. Even if they don't get it, it is the only leverage they have.
The Palestinians should demand one man one vote. Even if they don't get it, it is the only leverage they have.
The Palestinians were given a country in 1947 and they went to war instead and lost. They went to war in 1967 and 1973. And lost. They murdered their youth in the Intifada. Child soldiers blown to fragments. Their leaders sacrificed their children. The Palestinian leaders and organization. Arafat and Hezbollah and so forth will join Hitler and the Nazi, Stalin and Mao and the communists in perfidy. The Palestinians were given control of the Gaza strip and they funneled all of the reconstruction money into build rockets and tunnels instead of schools and hospitals.
The French and Germans fought two wars that engulfed the world. Only when Germany became a functioning democracy was Europe able to become what Kant called a "zone of peace" per his theory of the democratic peace.
The Palestinians could create their version of Singapore. They want education and social progress. My guess is that 1 percent of them want rockets and guns.
A democratic Palestine would cause the border between Palestine and Israel to become irrelevant in 50 years as it became between France and Germany.
The French and Germans fought two wars that engulfed the world. Only when Germany became a functioning democracy was Europe able to become what Kant called a "zone of peace" per his theory of the democratic peace.
The Palestinians could create their version of Singapore. They want education and social progress. My guess is that 1 percent of them want rockets and guns.
A democratic Palestine would cause the border between Palestine and Israel to become irrelevant in 50 years as it became between France and Germany.
5
It must be remembered that Yitzhak Rabin, an Israeli Prime Minister who tried to implement the 2 state solution was murdered by someone who lived in the settlements. This fact is not lost on the current Israeli pols. In the meantime the Likud party treats the Palestinians much the same way that indigenous Americans were treated.
Alas, it is a bizarre conflit based on a deep human dissonance.
Unfortunately, I am skeptical about any viable solutions.
It looks never ending.
Unfortunately, I am skeptical about any viable solutions.
It looks never ending.
As a Christian Zionist I would recall the sounds of the great sportscaster Dick Vitale... " I'm with Bibi - Baby" and not with Jimmy Carter.
5
Mr. Carter you truely are a piece of work! It must be all of the money your and your 'carter foundation' receive from the Arab government in the Middle East that make it so easy for you to push peace on Israel without a real partner in it. Until the Palestinians stop committing terrorist acts against the Israelis there will be no peace. Oh and FYI the ' Palestinians' are nothing more than Egyptians, Jordanians, and Syrians. They just took the name after Jews in 'Palestine' back in the early 20th century stopped using the term to reference themselves. Great marketing scheme terrorists.
3
President Carter still does not get it. Of all the issues, he repeatedly ignores that Palestinian Arabs' refusal to acknowledge that Jews have an historic right to live in peace in the land of Israel even if side by side with other faiths. Americans cannot solve this issue by continuing to encourage Arab rejection. Only when Arabs accept Jewish rights will peace occur. Israelis will quickly accommodate to necessary steps for peace once equivocation disappears. Remember. Jimmy Carter has no place in heaven for Muslims or Jews. Why should the rest of us care what he thinks.
6
Recognition should be paired with partition. The Arab world has made a wonderful show of Israel being the source of all evil. But it's a really a sideshow to distract people from their human rights abuses against Jews in their own countries, and their abysmal treatment of each other. Arab states point fingers at Israel about the Palestinian exodus at Israel's founding, and the world has been all to willing to ignore the similar forced exodus from their own countries at that time. It's a sideshow to distract from the fact that Israel has made more progress in a 7 decades than their significantly larger populations have made in 7 centuries.
We should take a hard line that settlers in the West Bank should move back to Israel proper. That hard line should be conditioned on all Palestinians leaving Israel proper to live with their brothers and sisters in their own land that they've been striving for for so long.
Of course this won't happen. And it won't happen for the same Arab hypocrisy we see all around the world where the Arabs blame superior civilizations for all the woes of their heartland, but want to live in those exact same civilizations that they call their "oppressors".
Arab civilization (if you can still call it that) needs to be forced to live with itself, and to confront why it is that, if their dominant religious culture is truly so wonderful, they demonstrably want to live everywhere else but where it reigns supreme.
We should take a hard line that settlers in the West Bank should move back to Israel proper. That hard line should be conditioned on all Palestinians leaving Israel proper to live with their brothers and sisters in their own land that they've been striving for for so long.
Of course this won't happen. And it won't happen for the same Arab hypocrisy we see all around the world where the Arabs blame superior civilizations for all the woes of their heartland, but want to live in those exact same civilizations that they call their "oppressors".
Arab civilization (if you can still call it that) needs to be forced to live with itself, and to confront why it is that, if their dominant religious culture is truly so wonderful, they demonstrably want to live everywhere else but where it reigns supreme.
4
President Carter should know better, but I suspect he does not want to, just as so much of the west does not. The Palestinians talk peace in English, but in Arabic their position is clear: Palestine extends all the way to the Mediterranean, and Israel does not exist. The Israelis know this - the Americans and Europeans do, but ignore it, in hopes that it will somehow change. Meanwhile, the Palestinian position has essentially been "these negotiations are only about a timeline for giving us everything we want." Some "peace process." Shame on you President Carter. Shame on the U.S. for not exposing the real Palestinian position.
3
Jimmy Carter is beyond delusional. The goal of the Palestinians is to take over all of Israel, not just the West Bank.
He compared Israel to pre-Mandela South Africa (apartheid), but the vast majority of Israeli Arabs would much rather live under the Israeli government than Hamas or the Palestinian government. Why? With the exception of mandatory military service (lucky them), they have the same rights as Jews have in Israel and Americans have in the US.
Perhaps Mr. Carter should consider what would happen to two gay Arab men walking hand-in-hand in the streets of Gaza City or Hebron. It's not pretty.
He compared Israel to pre-Mandela South Africa (apartheid), but the vast majority of Israeli Arabs would much rather live under the Israeli government than Hamas or the Palestinian government. Why? With the exception of mandatory military service (lucky them), they have the same rights as Jews have in Israel and Americans have in the US.
Perhaps Mr. Carter should consider what would happen to two gay Arab men walking hand-in-hand in the streets of Gaza City or Hebron. It's not pretty.
7
America's worst President with advice to President Obama to sneak in a big foreign policy change just before leaving office.
Is Carter trying to ruin Obama's reputation so that Carter is no longer America's worst President?
Is Carter trying to ruin Obama's reputation so that Carter is no longer America's worst President?
2
Fruitful negotiations between two entities (and there must be single voices speaking for both Israel and Palestine) depend upon reasonably equivalent strengths and at least some shared values and desired outcomes. Simply put, successfully negotiated outcomes are at least perceived as and are usually substantive "win-win" situations.
Israel is far stronger militarily and economically than Palestine. Despite Israel's own domestic political discord regarding Palestine (and Netanyahu), and basically leveling international support for both Israel and Palestine, Israel is significantly stronger and really needs nothing from Palestine. It can even continue to live with sporadic Palestinian hostilities. Palestine, though, needs Israel to recognize and cede land. To make this work, Palestine must be more creative and add something more that Israel would value to its negotiation portfolio.
Israel is far stronger militarily and economically than Palestine. Despite Israel's own domestic political discord regarding Palestine (and Netanyahu), and basically leveling international support for both Israel and Palestine, Israel is significantly stronger and really needs nothing from Palestine. It can even continue to live with sporadic Palestinian hostilities. Palestine, though, needs Israel to recognize and cede land. To make this work, Palestine must be more creative and add something more that Israel would value to its negotiation portfolio.
1
Has-Been President Carter needs to experience life in Israel (and even better, Palestine) under never ending terrorist attacks. His family needs to be there as well to share in all comforts of living under siege and aggression of the Palestinians. Let him live like that for at least for a year (and no Israel protection please!) Then, and only then, he will be able to devote his undivided attention to recognition of Palestine as an equal, full blooded terrorist state. See what he sings then.
4
Before 1948, Israel was called Palestine. It was shared by both Jews and Arabs. Why can't it be shared again? Sounds, maybe, very naïve but what's the alternative? Never ending bloodshed and hate? Israel was created as haven for Jews after the holocaust. However, in my opinion, had there never been an Israel, Jews would have flocked to their historical homeland regardless and would have thrived and prospered along with the native Arabs. "Israel" created the problem. It should never have happened. Now its an intractable mess. Only by sharing opportunities fairly with all of Israel's Arabs will peace finally come to the land now called Israel!
1
President Carter, you are a treasure and a fearless seeker of peace, human rights and justice. Your strong and fearless voice for a just solution in the Levant is all too rare in Washington.
It is readily apparent that Likud Party partisans have no intention of giving anything other than lip service to any peace process and as long as their party holds sway in Israel I would not expect anything different. The more secular leaders of Israel's founding generation are all gone and the hyper orthodox are in ascendance. They are stalling for time to continue to steal lands from Palestinians for new settlements and that is not a formula for peace or success.
I agree that Palestine needs a voice at the UN and an Ambassador in Washington, but they need a functional and representative government first.
It is readily apparent that Likud Party partisans have no intention of giving anything other than lip service to any peace process and as long as their party holds sway in Israel I would not expect anything different. The more secular leaders of Israel's founding generation are all gone and the hyper orthodox are in ascendance. They are stalling for time to continue to steal lands from Palestinians for new settlements and that is not a formula for peace or success.
I agree that Palestine needs a voice at the UN and an Ambassador in Washington, but they need a functional and representative government first.
27
One cannot "steal" something that is not LEGALLY owned by someone else.
1
What's Jordan's role in all this? Everyone seems to overlook that the land occupied belonged to Jordan ( who itself expelled and murdered its Palestinian citizens in Black September.) Here's a good idea - Israel gives back the land to Jordan; and then, let the US, UN and EU continue to insist on a Palestinian state... from Jordan. Israeli "occupation" and treatment of the Palestinians would then begin to look awfully good, I guarantee...
3
Mr. Obama, you've been putting up with Bibi and Co. long enough. Please do one good lasting thing in this conflict, and as Pres. Carter advises, recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.
Israel is ready to make peace but the Palestine people would rather make war. Why does't the President recognize this. Instead the Palestinians have produced horrible ways to make the Israeli people know their desire to continue
trying to destroy anyone who disagrees with them. Killing innocent people with knives and stabbing folks and now their horrible fires that have destroyed homes and forests in Israel. All of us want a two state solution, Peace above all else and harmony between the nations ,,,,,,,,,, BE Kretchmar Los Altos CA
trying to destroy anyone who disagrees with them. Killing innocent people with knives and stabbing folks and now their horrible fires that have destroyed homes and forests in Israel. All of us want a two state solution, Peace above all else and harmony between the nations ,,,,,,,,,, BE Kretchmar Los Altos CA
7
Anyone with any sense can see that Netanyahu and his Likud cohorts are dead set against freedom or equality, let alone a "two state solution". The hope of Israel and its supporters in the US (including the Congress, which serves as Likud's poodles) is to sanitize the apartheid system in the occupied lands and to demonize the Palestinians as a people unworthy of freedom or their own state. The only solution is for the US to cease its unconditional support for Israel and let them know that we do not support their values, but rather our own, which are freedom, equality and self determination for all.
Oh!,
Mr. Carter: there is no peace.. there were no peace-makers... it was just a new mistep.
Mr. Carter: there is no peace.. there were no peace-makers... it was just a new mistep.
Land theft and violent, indigenous population cleansing by the Israelis has left the Palestinians seething and largely helpless. All this while US gave more and more arms and money to Israel. At this point Israel has the 10th strongest military in the world , can survive a first strike and is the undisputed military hegemon in the Middle East. President Carter calls for a 2 state solution along the original "green lines," --this is just. And such a plan needs American support. Otherwise , the destruction of the Palestinians is imminent.
Dear Mr. president, America should recognize Palestine (never ever a country) if and only if The Palestinians recognize the right of Israel to exist. End of discussion.
5
Not just the right of Israel to exist, but the right of Israel to exist as the only country in the world where the majority of its population are Jews (whether or not the individual citizens, Jewish or not, practice the religion associated with Jews).
1
How is it possible that no one, including Mr. Carter, does not remember that Gaza and the West Bank belonged to Egypt and Jordan respectively prior to the Six Day War in 1967 and the conquest of those areas is the result of a war initiated in large part by Egypt's blockade of the Straits of Tiran ( an act universally recognized as the initiation of hostilities). Jordan, which had denied access to Jewish holy sites prior to 1967, was warned to remain neutral but chose to bombard West Jerusalem, resulting in the loss of the Old City (allowing Jews to return to the Western Wall for the first time in years). There was no Palestine, just Egypt and Jordan. The conquest of these lands does represent a demographic dilemma for Israel but I beseech the righteous Mr. Carter to present one other example where lands obtained in a defensive war were ever returned to the losers, especially if those losers are ruled by terrorists unwilling to let Jews anywhere in the world live. No mention of the violence perpetrated by the Palestinians or the offer by Ehud Barak that would have given back more than 90% of the West Bank to the Palestinians had not Arafat at the last minute turned down the offer ( I suppose a resolution of the conflict would have removed the very reason for Arafat to exist). Shame on you, Mr. Carter, for your failure to acknowledge that the lack of peace in the Middle East rests with both sides!
7
No one paid the slightest bit of attention to Carter when he was President. Why does he think any one pays attention to him now.
3
before the Six-Day War those lands where in our hands and the Palestinians still lived in refugee camps and the Arabs still attacked Israel. why should Israel automatically assume that giving up those lands would make peace with the Arabs when they wage war against Israel when they already had on those lands
4
Another bad idea from a lousy one-term President. What government would the US recognize? The theocracy in Gaza or the kleptocracy in Ramallah? The "spirit of Camp David" is from entirely different era. It's as if Jimmy Carter missed everything that happened between 1996 and the present. Did he not notice the disaster that happened after Israeli withdrawal from Zone A territories, from Gaza, and from South Lebanon?
5
This is definitely a new definition of chutzpah. Jimmy Carter, who unfairly hung the apartheid label on Israel as part of the title of one of his many Israel bashing books, demands that America recognize the terrorist state of Palestine. Allow me to bring Mr. Carter up to date on some unpleasant current events. For starters Palestinians engaged in unprovoked knife attacks against innocent Israeli Jews for months. When that didn't work the Palestinians switched to arson in another attempt to kill as many Jews as possible. Where was Jimmy Carter while all these anti-Semitic outrages were taking place?? He was nowhere to be found as usual. Instead Carter wants to continue basking in the past glory of the Camp David accords.
And if Jimmy Carter thinks that Bibi Netanyahu is going to give a state to the people who murdered his brother Yoni then he is more naïve than I thought. Anyhow I don't think Barack Obama is all that anxious to tackle the Israeli/Palestinian quagmire all over again in the waning days of his presidency.
Jimmy Carter had better wake up and realize that there's never going to be a Palestinian state. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
And if Jimmy Carter thinks that Bibi Netanyahu is going to give a state to the people who murdered his brother Yoni then he is more naïve than I thought. Anyhow I don't think Barack Obama is all that anxious to tackle the Israeli/Palestinian quagmire all over again in the waning days of his presidency.
Jimmy Carter had better wake up and realize that there's never going to be a Palestinian state. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.
4
Once again no acknowledgment from President Carter that Palestinians terrorize Israel's citizens.
President Obama's recognition of Palestine will bring clarity to the Democrat's false commitment to a safe and secure Israel.
President Obama's recognition of Palestine will bring clarity to the Democrat's false commitment to a safe and secure Israel.
4
Is this really something that the US should get involved in? As seen from the past 8 years, we have managed to antagonize our allies (Israel, Saudi, Egypt, Turkey, Philippines) while trying to spread some vague democratic, human rights type of ideals. Who cares whether these countries are run by tyrants. All we should care about is whether it serves our interest and keep our humble opinion to ourselves. In today's world, it certainly doesn't serve our interest to support a Palestinian state founded on the concept of Islamic terrorism.
1
I think the only way we will see peace is when Israel, Fatah and Hamas have young, open minded leaders. Until then there will just be a stalemate.
America must recognize Palestine, but the Palestinians don't have to withdraw their covenant to destroy the State of Israel or kill all the worlds Jews.
True to form Mr. Carter.
True to form Mr. Carter.
3
I wish it were one state, a secular state, with both of their interests protected and with a shared Jerusalem.
Anyone who's concerned about the future generations of Israelis should listen to what Mr. Carter says here. To let the country stay forever fortress-like is unfair to them.
28
Gaza should be its own state immediately. Tomorrow. Neither Israel nor Egypt, both former occupiers, have no claim on the place. The tricky part will be keeping Iran and its cohorts out.
The West Bank should be an independent state. If settler Jews live there, so be it. They'll be Palestinian Jews. Israel has Arabs, Palestine can have Jews. In the meantime we can look at the West Bank as the Middle East equivalent of Quebec.
The West Bank should be an independent state. If settler Jews live there, so be it. They'll be Palestinian Jews. Israel has Arabs, Palestine can have Jews. In the meantime we can look at the West Bank as the Middle East equivalent of Quebec.
1
To those who think that recognition of the Palestinian state would reward and embolden terrorists I have a question: When Israel was recognized in 1948, did zionist terrorism increase? Or did it stop?
1
Straight from the Hamas Charter for those of you wishing they had a country of their own
:
Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it
as it had eliminated its predecessors.
[Jews] Their scheme has been laid out in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion...
[Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and
international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of
the Islamic Resistance Movement
The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and
kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the
rocks and trees will cry out: 'O Muslem, there is a Jew hiding behind
me, come and kill him.
:
Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it
as it had eliminated its predecessors.
[Jews] Their scheme has been laid out in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion...
[Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and
international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of
the Islamic Resistance Movement
The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and
kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the
rocks and trees will cry out: 'O Muslem, there is a Jew hiding behind
me, come and kill him.
8
Sorry Jimmy, times they are a changing. There are new kids on the block. You know, now Israel has Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, and of course Iran just around the corner. Just guess what their mottos are; let's see, it starts with "Death to Israel" and ends with "Death to America". The PA can't even hold elections for fear of being ousted by their own electorate and losing to Hamas, which would then force Israel to annex the west bank. Any past agreements between Israel and the PA won't fly now. So Jimmy it's time for you to find new crusade.
11
Another Pro-Palestinine stance from probably the worst President we have ever had.He gave us 21% interest rates, gas rationing, failed Irani related military missions, and on and on and on. He has consistently proven that as pre and post POTUS and CIC he will choose any side of an issue as long as it does not help Israel. Please retire to the peanut farm.
10
Without any quid pro quo, i.e. something from the Palestinians in return for US recognition what possible beneficial outcome should we expect?
It's not just this particular case but thousands of years of human history has taught us that negotiations where each side gives the other something it wants in the only thing that ever works.
And in this particular case, sorry, Israel withdrew from Lebanon, all Israel got in return were rockets from Lebanon. Israel withdrew from Gaza, all Israel got in return were rockets from Gaza.
Israel has many faults and is on a collision course with history by its continuing occupation, but a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State isn't going to fix amything.
It's not just this particular case but thousands of years of human history has taught us that negotiations where each side gives the other something it wants in the only thing that ever works.
And in this particular case, sorry, Israel withdrew from Lebanon, all Israel got in return were rockets from Lebanon. Israel withdrew from Gaza, all Israel got in return were rockets from Gaza.
Israel has many faults and is on a collision course with history by its continuing occupation, but a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State isn't going to fix amything.
5
Mr. Carter- please elaborate further.
Do you mean, recognize the State of Palestine that....
- is actually two parallel states, currently are at war with each other, one of which openly calls for the killing of Jews and the destruction of the state of Israel, the other calls for the same, but silently and only in Arabic?
- incites arson and encourages the setting of forest fires?
- glorifies the stabbing of innocent civilians, including teenagers and the elderly?
- is governed by millionaires who've skimmed off UN funds while their constituents starve?
- deliberately launch rockets into civilian populations daily, and wage war every few years, just to unify their public behind them?
Been there done that with the Palestinian State issue. Hows about seeing if they are adult enough to get their act together first. Like picking up the garbage. Show me something, anything government-like, without blaming the Israeli government for anything and everything, then we should consider recognition.
Do you mean, recognize the State of Palestine that....
- is actually two parallel states, currently are at war with each other, one of which openly calls for the killing of Jews and the destruction of the state of Israel, the other calls for the same, but silently and only in Arabic?
- incites arson and encourages the setting of forest fires?
- glorifies the stabbing of innocent civilians, including teenagers and the elderly?
- is governed by millionaires who've skimmed off UN funds while their constituents starve?
- deliberately launch rockets into civilian populations daily, and wage war every few years, just to unify their public behind them?
Been there done that with the Palestinian State issue. Hows about seeing if they are adult enough to get their act together first. Like picking up the garbage. Show me something, anything government-like, without blaming the Israeli government for anything and everything, then we should consider recognition.
13
Truth.
2
Jimmy Carter, a failed one-term president with a reputation for always taking sides against Israel, is at it again. He was not a champion of unilateralism when he was in office, achieving a mutually acceptable peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, but now wishes to impose a unilateral and one-sided solution now. Israel will never accept such an outcome, rightfully viewing it as the anti-Semitism that it is, and the Trump administration will immediately reject it. The world is looking towards the next presidential administration, not the current one. Any bold foreign policy steps should come after Inauguration Day, not now.
5
If there is one thing we learned during four years of Carter is that his judgement is pretty poor, especially when it comes to foreign policy, and ESPECIALLY when it comes to the Middle East. It took until almost the end of Reagans second term to undo all of the damage done under his weak administration. We are in a similar position now after 8 years of lack of leadership. appeasement and general weakness under Obama. Probably not wise to listen to Carter.
5
Expecting Obama to be anything but willing right-wing roadkill has been a fool's errand. To the very end, he and his lame administration are more worried about a "peaceful" transition of power regardless of how that power was came by.
When history is written, Obama will be recognized as the man that gave it all away, who had no sense of his time in history, who missed that his time in history was to reverse what Reagan started, and not to resuscitate it from the death it was dying. Worst President in the history of the United States and probably the most tragic figure in human history given the consequences of what he squandered.
Obama will do nothing, Mr. Carter. He doesn't have your insight, intelligence, or courage.
When history is written, Obama will be recognized as the man that gave it all away, who had no sense of his time in history, who missed that his time in history was to reverse what Reagan started, and not to resuscitate it from the death it was dying. Worst President in the history of the United States and probably the most tragic figure in human history given the consequences of what he squandered.
Obama will do nothing, Mr. Carter. He doesn't have your insight, intelligence, or courage.
2
Yes, absolutely, the settlements are wrong, but they are not the impediment to peace. They are a symptom of the cynicism with which Israelis regard any suggestion of a two state solution.
Right now, today, Gaza could be a seaside mecca for tourists, bringing employment and enough money to change the face of the desert into a paradise. Palestinians living there could be prosperous, thriving. But they're not, are they.
Israeli cities each look like a modern metropolis. Gaza towns look third world. The materials to moderize are deflected to materiels, Hamas' war making machine (Hamas was elected into power.)
In Israeli schools students learn physics, chemistry, mathematics. In Gaza (and the West Bank) students learn how to slit the throat of Jews.
Palestinian leadership needs perpetal conflict to maintain their power base. They have no vested interest in arriving at peace.
Until Palestinians are united in accepting the existence of Israel a two state solution is a noble but impotent endeavor, at best naive... biased at worst.
Right now, today, Gaza could be a seaside mecca for tourists, bringing employment and enough money to change the face of the desert into a paradise. Palestinians living there could be prosperous, thriving. But they're not, are they.
Israeli cities each look like a modern metropolis. Gaza towns look third world. The materials to moderize are deflected to materiels, Hamas' war making machine (Hamas was elected into power.)
In Israeli schools students learn physics, chemistry, mathematics. In Gaza (and the West Bank) students learn how to slit the throat of Jews.
Palestinian leadership needs perpetal conflict to maintain their power base. They have no vested interest in arriving at peace.
Until Palestinians are united in accepting the existence of Israel a two state solution is a noble but impotent endeavor, at best naive... biased at worst.
8
President Carter, you are correct on this. This is long overdue.
2
Thank you President Carter for pointing out the obvious solution to this cruel and needless conflict on our tiny planet.
Like little kids that require a parent to settle tantrums, or grown ups that need a judge to settle a divorce, Israel and Palestine need a responsible outside force to settle this once and for all. The powerful bully in this case has no intention of ceding ground it has taken from its weaker opponent.
Whose history, beliefs, heritage get to overrule the others'? Israel should not be recognized without Palestine also being recognized too.
I have never heard Israel declare a Palestinian states right to exist.
Israelis would certainly retaliate against any country imposing military rule upon them - why do they think the Palestinians would be different?
I'd go further and support a "two-state solution" or a "NO-state solution" with the UN revoking the charter that created the nation of Israel. Demilitarize Israel too - and have the USA provide them protection instead of giving them unaccounted billions of tax dollars - Israelis have proven to use their military irresponsibly to subjugate an entire peoples.
Once these two countries grow up and act civilly towards each other, they'd get more responsibilities back.
Regrettably, we all know how this will end. The complete takeover of the West Bank by Israel, and demolished Palestinian houses as far as the eye can see from the new ultra "exclusive" Trump Golf courses on stolen lands - Trump's great at that.
Like little kids that require a parent to settle tantrums, or grown ups that need a judge to settle a divorce, Israel and Palestine need a responsible outside force to settle this once and for all. The powerful bully in this case has no intention of ceding ground it has taken from its weaker opponent.
Whose history, beliefs, heritage get to overrule the others'? Israel should not be recognized without Palestine also being recognized too.
I have never heard Israel declare a Palestinian states right to exist.
Israelis would certainly retaliate against any country imposing military rule upon them - why do they think the Palestinians would be different?
I'd go further and support a "two-state solution" or a "NO-state solution" with the UN revoking the charter that created the nation of Israel. Demilitarize Israel too - and have the USA provide them protection instead of giving them unaccounted billions of tax dollars - Israelis have proven to use their military irresponsibly to subjugate an entire peoples.
Once these two countries grow up and act civilly towards each other, they'd get more responsibilities back.
Regrettably, we all know how this will end. The complete takeover of the West Bank by Israel, and demolished Palestinian houses as far as the eye can see from the new ultra "exclusive" Trump Golf courses on stolen lands - Trump's great at that.
1
To all the naysayers: 1. So far we have a working agreement with Iran where there were multiple religious/political/military. We found a way to reach an agreement while acknowledging there were areas of fundamental disagreement to which there are still sanctions and we hold them accountable. It could work between Israel and Palestine. 2. You make peace with your enemies, not your friends. That's how it works. That's what a peace agreement is for.
25
Only if both sides are seeking peace. Please provide factual evidence that the Arabs are prepared to accept, and make peace with a nation state of the Jewish People.
1
Please Mr. Carter just go away... You have nothing of value to contribute to the Jewish people. They and the American people deserve far better than you were, are, or ever will be.....
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
2
I think it is an excellent idea but you should not be taking away from president Trump (which he will be in Jan) a card he can play.
I still remember the time when he said at one of the Republican debates that he would work for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. And for that he was accused of being anti-semitic. He pointed out that this hardly made sense given that his favorite daughter Ivanka had converted to Judaism.
I do think that Trump wants fairness between both parties and it is best if we leave him with a full hand which he can play with both parties.
Let us face it - Obama has done precious little in his 8 years on this problem and it is not right to take the initiative away from Trump just when he is arriving.
Palestinians need to be told, "Yes, you can have the ice cream, but only after you have eaten the spinach". And the spinach is a whole hearted acceptance of Israel.
I still remember the time when he said at one of the Republican debates that he would work for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. And for that he was accused of being anti-semitic. He pointed out that this hardly made sense given that his favorite daughter Ivanka had converted to Judaism.
I do think that Trump wants fairness between both parties and it is best if we leave him with a full hand which he can play with both parties.
Let us face it - Obama has done precious little in his 8 years on this problem and it is not right to take the initiative away from Trump just when he is arriving.
Palestinians need to be told, "Yes, you can have the ice cream, but only after you have eaten the spinach". And the spinach is a whole hearted acceptance of Israel.
2
While I am a total believer in the two-state solution, I struggle with the notion that Israel be forced into negotiations and concessions with an adversary who, as one of their fundamental principals, vows the destruction of the Israeli state. Don't we also need to put pressure on the Palestinians (though our Arab allies) to renounce this policy, and then press the case for a negotiated settlement?
3
I'm Jewish and absolutely agree with this. And Israel should take note that the only way to stop such movements like BDS is to recognize Palestine, and then move to talks where everything, no matter how hard or painful, is on the table. Given the current Israeli government, probably not possible, but if the left, or Labor is ever elected again in Israel, very possible indeed.
2
mr. carter is so accomplished and bright, I trust me but his essay leaves out oddly what he must know are unachievable conditions to this agreement: eg. if wd any state accept demilitarization if their enemy state does also give up all their military (including atomic) except for basic defense?
Howeer, Mr. Carter does bring up the topic that no one can answer, how will a single state solution deal with the millions of disenfranchised and angry Arabs living under occupation? Israel's action so far simply show they have the will and means to suppress the disenfranchised and there are no better alternatives to this (though history shows that slow or quick genocide is a likely outcome as it was for most of the native americans in the US)
Howeer, Mr. Carter does bring up the topic that no one can answer, how will a single state solution deal with the millions of disenfranchised and angry Arabs living under occupation? Israel's action so far simply show they have the will and means to suppress the disenfranchised and there are no better alternatives to this (though history shows that slow or quick genocide is a likely outcome as it was for most of the native americans in the US)
1
I agree with President Carter 100% but it will never come to pass. Israel will never agree to borders. It is part of their strategy. As long as borders are not defined they can continue to take whatever they choose. There are videos of Netanyahu scoffing at Palestinian demands. He is the kind of person who will look into the cameras in the public eye and say one thing and then when he is in private quarters laugh. Not until Israel is forced to make concessions will Israel make any effort toward real peace. As long as the US stands behind Israel, no matter what Israel does, Israel will destroy the Palestinians with impunity.
1
Thank you, Mr. Carter! You are a beacon in our effort to navigate through the miasma created by of all the special interest groups, well-meaning but misinformed or uninformed US citizens and religious zealots on all sides who are convinced that their ends justify inhumane means, to finally right the course of this ship. How tragic that a flawed but essentially noble experiment has been so distorted and taken advantage of. Getting a fair two-state solution underway would remove a major source of fuel now feeding and escalating the radical Muslim offensives around the world. Calmly and clearly, you keep bringing us back to the facts, to an even-handed historical perspective. You are a great statesman and a true peacemaker.
2
Mr. President, you were right then and are right again.
The Palestinians have to settled their internal differences among themselves but there is no reason to withhold recognition from the Abbas Government. Diplomatic recognition from the United States should have but one precondition; PA affirmation of Security Council Resolution 242. If affirmed, then the terms of the resolution give Israel what it needs in terms of security and Palestine a start of building a true nation state. Hamas is a rogue.
Accept the slavering opponents of any justice for Palestine to be howling and gnashing their teeth; crying that giving Palestine anything other than a boot on the neck is crassly anti-Semitic.
They're never going to change because they own no mirrors.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
The Palestinians have to settled their internal differences among themselves but there is no reason to withhold recognition from the Abbas Government. Diplomatic recognition from the United States should have but one precondition; PA affirmation of Security Council Resolution 242. If affirmed, then the terms of the resolution give Israel what it needs in terms of security and Palestine a start of building a true nation state. Hamas is a rogue.
Accept the slavering opponents of any justice for Palestine to be howling and gnashing their teeth; crying that giving Palestine anything other than a boot on the neck is crassly anti-Semitic.
They're never going to change because they own no mirrors.
Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
2
Mr Carter, unfortunately I think the odds are against your achieving the "foreign policy goal of my life" While Egypt and Jordan, perhaps even Saudi Arabia have come to terms with the existence of a Jewish polity in what was always considered by Arabs to be Arab land only and free of non-dhimmi Jews, Lebanon, Iran, Syria and of course, the Palestinian people themselves aren't ready to make peace. Why Mr Carter, should the UN plan you propose work when it lays out exactly the same parameters that both the Clinton Camp David plan and the Olmert peace proposal laid out, proposals rejected by Arafat and the Palestinian leadership? It is because the Palestinians will settle for nothing less that the non-existence of a Jewish state. To make peace, they require the return of Palestinian refugees and their descendants altering the demographic of a majority Jewish state to a majority, Arab ruled one. That is something the Israelis will not accept. Of course it is convenient for a peacemaker like you to leave out that one little detail that stands in the way. And, that one little detail has, since before the 1948 war, been the reason for the resistance to peace with Israel of most Arab states. Suuni and Shia alike, they cannot countenance the independence existence of a Jewish state in lands they feel belong to Arabs alone.
4
It is simply bizarre that President Carter who participated in the only lasting peace agreement in the Middle East would recommend that the US be part of attempting to impose a solution on both the Israelis and Palestinians. The only reason the Camp David Accords survive is because of the permanent commitments two extremely strong leaders made to each other. In the case of the Palestinians there does not exist a leader who can make those commitments to assure a lasting peace. Settlements can be dismantled as part of negotiations when the sides are ready to find peace. Israel long ago showed its willingness to walk away from land for security and peace.
5
Jimmy who?
I guess because of Obama's ridiculous work-around with Iran, and his sell-out of decent Cuban people, we must now make peace and recognize another terrorist state?
I guess because of Obama's ridiculous work-around with Iran, and his sell-out of decent Cuban people, we must now make peace and recognize another terrorist state?
3
What will it take for this awful "publication" to get it? Their beloved pet candidate just lost, and the public is so, so not interested in pseudo-nationalistic groups pretending to have a real cause like the hilariously mis-named "palestinians," a bunch of arab muslims who moved from Egypt, Syria and Jordan to work in jewish businesses and farms - and then, as muslims do everywhere, demand special "rights" and political power.
Just ask the Maronites of lebanon whether it was a smart idea to allow massive muslim immigration into that country in the 1940s forward, who then of course pulled the traditional arab muslim game of demands until they have taken control, through violence and massive birthrates.
If the clueless and the dim like Jimma Carter want to live out their bleeding heart, lunatic fantasies, that's great for them, but the rest of us want no part of a 23rd arab muslim dictatorship. It's time for the arab muslims in the West Bank to move back to their countries of origin, and stop ethnically cleansing the jews and other minorities out of the mideast.
Just ask the Maronites of lebanon whether it was a smart idea to allow massive muslim immigration into that country in the 1940s forward, who then of course pulled the traditional arab muslim game of demands until they have taken control, through violence and massive birthrates.
If the clueless and the dim like Jimma Carter want to live out their bleeding heart, lunatic fantasies, that's great for them, but the rest of us want no part of a 23rd arab muslim dictatorship. It's time for the arab muslims in the West Bank to move back to their countries of origin, and stop ethnically cleansing the jews and other minorities out of the mideast.
6
Dear President Carter,
How many Palestinian states would you like to create?
One, two or three?
1. Naturally, one state would be on the West Bank run by Fatah.
2. A second state have to be in Gaza, but Hamas loathes Fatah and will start a civil war.
3. A third state would have to be on the East Bank, where the Palestinians are the vast majority.
Do you think the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will allow an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank?
The Israelis are more willing to support a state on the West Bank than the Hashemites, who will be overthrown by Fatah as soon as it can field an army.
As soon as the West Bank becomes an independent state, the Palestinians on the East Bank (over 70% of Jordan) will demand that the West Bank and East Bank be reunited, as they were from 1948-1967.
How many Palestinian states would you like to create?
One, two or three?
1. Naturally, one state would be on the West Bank run by Fatah.
2. A second state have to be in Gaza, but Hamas loathes Fatah and will start a civil war.
3. A third state would have to be on the East Bank, where the Palestinians are the vast majority.
Do you think the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will allow an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank?
The Israelis are more willing to support a state on the West Bank than the Hashemites, who will be overthrown by Fatah as soon as it can field an army.
As soon as the West Bank becomes an independent state, the Palestinians on the East Bank (over 70% of Jordan) will demand that the West Bank and East Bank be reunited, as they were from 1948-1967.
5
How are you ignoring the repeated suicide bombings and missile attacks and underground tunnels which they are using to attack Israel? With whom are you expecting Israel to make peace? If your home and your family's lives were threatened in this way, would you make peace? You have not offered any assurances of security (UN Peacekeeping Force - ha, ha.. sic) to motivate any sort of implementation of your repeatedly failed ideas.
Come to the table with proposals that address these shortcomings and we will welcome any reasonable solution.
Come to the table with proposals that address these shortcomings and we will welcome any reasonable solution.
4
President Carter, I'm sure you can intuitively hear the deafening sound of silence that will be the response to your Op Ed. The barbarians are no longer at the gate. Bibi Netanyahu and his American minion Donald Trump are now in charge. They are both indelibly stained by the tinge of racism. The West Bank settlements will continue to be built because the settlers form a key part of Netanyahu's political constituency. The U.S. will move its embassy to Jerusalem, because Donald Trump and the Right Wing of the Republican Party's combination of arrogance and ignorance makes them impervious to the concept of Palestinian rights and sensitivities. It must be excruciating for you to see your signal foreign policy achievement fall victim to the rhetoric of demagogues, but history will venerate you, not the purveyors of hate and tribalism.
1
From the time I was eight years old in 1948, I have been witness to the bad faith efforts of successive U. S. & Israeli governments prattling on and on, decade after decade about their commitment to peace and justice for the Palestinians. I firmly believe as long as the U. S. state department and our government intuitions are subsumed and guided as to what the U.S. policy is by Israel we are not an honest broker, but a pawn in the long range policy of the State of Israel. Our politicians are so fearful of saying anything that the Israeli lobby finds not to their liking, that nothing will be done and this running sore will continue to roil the mid-east for years to come. Eventually more war, deaths and destabilization will be the legacy of this degenerative policy. This is the third rail of American Foreign policy…
1
Living in the past just doesn't work anymore, Mr. President. The Security Council already established two states in 1948. That didn't work. The US leadership has tried to find a peaceful two state solution, from Camp David to Oslo to John Kerry. But that ship has sailed.
Israel will never give back the land it needs to protect itself and grow. They will be flexible, I believe, in expanding citizenship opportunities and reducing discrimination against Arab Israeli's. But you can't expect Israel to self-destruct or negotiate seriously with people who want to destroy them. So I perceive an inexorable movement toward a one state solution, and I believe that is the future of Palestine. Israel will have to grapple with demographics, and maybe it's identity as a Jewish state will need revisiting. But Israel is such a strong and vibrant country that no one should expect it to look to the past for solutions.
Israel will never give back the land it needs to protect itself and grow. They will be flexible, I believe, in expanding citizenship opportunities and reducing discrimination against Arab Israeli's. But you can't expect Israel to self-destruct or negotiate seriously with people who want to destroy them. So I perceive an inexorable movement toward a one state solution, and I believe that is the future of Palestine. Israel will have to grapple with demographics, and maybe it's identity as a Jewish state will need revisiting. But Israel is such a strong and vibrant country that no one should expect it to look to the past for solutions.
"Jimmy Carter: America Must Recognize Palestine".
My reply: Jimmy Carter, "Palestine" Must Recognize Israel".
Amen.
My reply: Jimmy Carter, "Palestine" Must Recognize Israel".
Amen.
6
I'm certain that President Carter means well, but as long as he continues to espouse such a view without specifically calling out Palestinians for never honoring their end of bargain by not just saying they will end terror acts but actually doing that? Well, his words are empty and one-sided as always.
And what does he think is going to happen? Borders just happen? This needs cooperation by the actual parties on the ground and the leaders of BOTH SIDES have never shown the willingness to negotiate in good faith and back up their words. Not just Bibi.
And what does he think is going to happen? Borders just happen? This needs cooperation by the actual parties on the ground and the leaders of BOTH SIDES have never shown the willingness to negotiate in good faith and back up their words. Not just Bibi.
2
Arabs, including Palestinians (some are Israeli citizens) will never accept Israel. In order to even consider a two state solution, Arabs must accept Israel.
Since that will never happen Mr. Carter, it is time to recognize Israel, and the amazing State (should be a country) that it is today, BECAUSE of the Zionist Jews.
Jews have earned their place through physical work, financial power and economic prowess, and the overall Jewish state is of a well educated law based peoples. Not enough could be said of the amazing prosperity of Israel.
Israel should be ONE state. A Jewish State, a place where Arabs could be Israeli citizens and have greater freedoms than anywhere else in the middle east or Arabian peninsula.
Since that will never happen Mr. Carter, it is time to recognize Israel, and the amazing State (should be a country) that it is today, BECAUSE of the Zionist Jews.
Jews have earned their place through physical work, financial power and economic prowess, and the overall Jewish state is of a well educated law based peoples. Not enough could be said of the amazing prosperity of Israel.
Israel should be ONE state. A Jewish State, a place where Arabs could be Israeli citizens and have greater freedoms than anywhere else in the middle east or Arabian peninsula.
3
This would do the opposite of what would be intended. Former President Carter should know better than most that only negotiation will solve this conflict (I shall remind everyone that all other conflicts were solved this way). One-sided resolutions create the illusion to Palestinian leadership that they can eliminate the state of Israel through lawfare. Mr. Carter should ask himself what if the Palestinians agreed to peace in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008? Who stopped all settlement activity in 2009? Netanyahu. Who did nothing in return? Abbas. The current situation on the ground is his failure. Stop blaming Israel for everything.
1
If the Germans had not done what they did there would probably be no State of Israel today. As a consequence the Middle East dilemma was essentially created in 1948 when the UN imperfectly gave a state to Jews by recognizing Israel, mostly at Palestinian expense, to make recompense for what the Germans did, without any due consideration to what the unintended consequences, like 68 years of war and upheaval, might be. Let's see how you like losing your home to live in a refugee camp for no money. This needs to be fixed.
The UN, which caused this mess in the first place, needs to make clear that it will IMPOSE a solution upon the parties, militarily if need be, whether the parties like it or not.
Bibi and Abbas are Master Procrastinators. Give the parties one year to come to a resolution of this 68 year-old problem. If they fail force the parties to submit the whole thing to Binding Arbitration. Each side picks an arbitrator, the two arbitrators choose a third arbitrator, the two sides argue their cases to the panel of arbitrators and, after due deliberation, the arbitrators decide. Majority rules. That's it. We don't want to hear any more about this.
Enforce the Arbitrators' decision with an armed international UN force until the parties get used to it.
Any provision in any Palestinian charter or similar document which prohibits Jews from living in Palestine has got to go.
Israel has Arabs. Palestine can have Jews. It's the same thing. Don't like it? Move.
The UN, which caused this mess in the first place, needs to make clear that it will IMPOSE a solution upon the parties, militarily if need be, whether the parties like it or not.
Bibi and Abbas are Master Procrastinators. Give the parties one year to come to a resolution of this 68 year-old problem. If they fail force the parties to submit the whole thing to Binding Arbitration. Each side picks an arbitrator, the two arbitrators choose a third arbitrator, the two sides argue their cases to the panel of arbitrators and, after due deliberation, the arbitrators decide. Majority rules. That's it. We don't want to hear any more about this.
Enforce the Arbitrators' decision with an armed international UN force until the parties get used to it.
Any provision in any Palestinian charter or similar document which prohibits Jews from living in Palestine has got to go.
Israel has Arabs. Palestine can have Jews. It's the same thing. Don't like it? Move.
2
Guess things are back to normal at the NY Times after the shock of the elections. Haven't had the normal weekly Israel-bashing op ed for at least two weeks now. Back to normal.
5
No two state solution. Israel should take it all and push the Palestinians out to neighboring countries. Syria is going to need the population to help rebuild the country. Perhaps come up with some grand deal, Israel provides some type of pay for Palestinians to relocate to Syria and covers food, education, health etc.. and provides funds to Syria to help rebuild along with the labor from the Palestinians. It's time to end this thing once and for all. If the Palestinians don't want to willingly move then force them. If this leads to wider war, so be it.
1
Why do we continue to give copious sums of cash to Israel? We should not be GIVING any money to Israel. Not because we don't like them or because they defy our wishes but because they don't need it from US. However, if they provide us with goods or services they should be paid a fair price.
Israel is no longer the backwater, start-up, fledgling nation populated by Holocaust survivors that it was 68 years ago. Israel now has a thriving economy. Israel is a leader in pharmaceuticals, weaponry, information tech and has recently begun to develop natural gas fields off its coast. Israel weathered the recent recession well and it has a strong currency. According to Forbes Israel has billionaires and many millionaires. If Israel needs money get it from them, not US.
We don't just give money to France, do we?
Israel is no longer the backwater, start-up, fledgling nation populated by Holocaust survivors that it was 68 years ago. Israel now has a thriving economy. Israel is a leader in pharmaceuticals, weaponry, information tech and has recently begun to develop natural gas fields off its coast. Israel weathered the recent recession well and it has a strong currency. According to Forbes Israel has billionaires and many millionaires. If Israel needs money get it from them, not US.
We don't just give money to France, do we?
2
One of the mysteries since Jimmy Carter ieft his presidency is his continuing animus toward the state of Israel. He seems to be fixated upon the Camp David agreement between the two reformed thugs, Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin, but seems to have overlooked the fact that no Palestinian representative participated in it. The Palestinian "State" which he wants to be recognized, is no such thing. It is merely the remnant of two terrorist organizations; Yassar Arafat's PLO under its president for life, Mahmoud Abbas, and Hamas, bitter enemies of one another. To be recognized as a state, a political entity must agree to certain obligations, the not the least of which is to live at peace with its neighbors. No one who pretends to speak for "Palestine" has ever acknowledged the right of a jewish state to exist on its borders. Certainly, the United Nations has no authority under its charter to created "states" out of thin air.
4
That is rich coming from you. isn't it how Israel was created by UN in the first place.
1
Mr. Carter, you are well meaning, but the two state solution is no longer an option, due to the colonization of the West Bank. The Israelis know this -- anyone who looks at a map will know this. Israel has created a situation that allows for just one state --
39
If a final, reasonable border is drawn and Jewish settlers who legally acquired property on the West Bank find themselves on the Palestinian side of the border they'll be Palestinians, Jewish Palestinians who will enjoy all of of the rights and privileges and obligations normally accorded to other citizens of the State of Palestine. If they don't like that they can move.
3
Who do you allege legally "owns" Judea and Samaria (the "West Bank") and by what law or legal process? Since that land was dedicated to become the "national home of the Jewish People" by international law written in 1922, how could the Jewish People be accused of "colonizing" it?
1
Pres. Carter,
Anyone who knows the Geneva Convention well, can tell you that acquisition of territory by offensive war is illegal. However, acquisition of territory by defensive war is legal, and serves as deterrent to starting wars. Israel capture of West Bank was a result of defensive war, therefore, Israel has full right to keep this territory.
Refugees from every conflict have been re-settled in other countries by the UN, but not Palestinians - they are intentionally not given citizenship by Arab countries to prolong the conflict.
In contrast, Jews expulsed from Arab lands in 1949 have been resettled. They have not been compensated for their property, and in fact the lands they held are much larger than the lands that Palestinians lost as a result of the war.
Treating Palestinians with kids gloves only encourages them refuse peace.
Pres. Carter, if you really want peace, it is time to stand up and tell Palestinians and other Arabs: "Enough is enough!"
Anyone who knows the Geneva Convention well, can tell you that acquisition of territory by offensive war is illegal. However, acquisition of territory by defensive war is legal, and serves as deterrent to starting wars. Israel capture of West Bank was a result of defensive war, therefore, Israel has full right to keep this territory.
Refugees from every conflict have been re-settled in other countries by the UN, but not Palestinians - they are intentionally not given citizenship by Arab countries to prolong the conflict.
In contrast, Jews expulsed from Arab lands in 1949 have been resettled. They have not been compensated for their property, and in fact the lands they held are much larger than the lands that Palestinians lost as a result of the war.
Treating Palestinians with kids gloves only encourages them refuse peace.
Pres. Carter, if you really want peace, it is time to stand up and tell Palestinians and other Arabs: "Enough is enough!"
14
The idea that Jimmy Carter is, somehow, an honest broker of this dispute is ludicrous. He disqualified himself when he published a book with the word "Apartheid" in its title -- directed at the Jewish State, and when he drew a moral equivalency between Hamas and Israel by arguing that both should be hauled before the International Criminal Court for war crimes. As Alan Dershowitz has rightly said: Carter "should just stop talking about the Middle East. The idea that the International Criminal Court should create moral equivalence between a democracy — which has ... fewer civilian casualties than any other army in history — [and] Hamas, that commits multiple war crimes every time it sends a rocket, is so obnoxious and so hypocritical and so typical of Jimmy Carter that ... he has made himself irrelevant and tossed himself into the trash pan of history."
7
Tens of thousands of Arabs/Muslims are being killed by Arabs/Muslim forces. Millions of refugees are being generated by Arab/Muslim conflicts. Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Brigade of the PLO openly call for the destruction of Israel. Yet, for Carter the only evil he sees are Jews building homes in land claimed by Arabs/Muslims, who also claim all of Israel as Palestinian. A Palestinian state will never recognize Israel. A Palestinian state will never recognize any Jewish holy sites, as seen recently by their religious intolerance of Jews with the UNESCO votes. Neither Gaza under Hamas nor the West Bank, only temporarily under the PA, will be demilitarized.
The only result of a Palestinian state will be more violence and death as we have seen when Israel withdrew from Gaza.
Egypt never claimed any part of Israel, so together with the large Sinai desert, there could be a cold peace. Palestinians view all of Israel as occupied territory. They will not be appeased. Calling for on an Israeli withdrawal will only add to demands. Carter doesn’t mention that Palestinians demand the right of return to Israel, which will keep the conflict going for another century or longer.
Carter is not offering a solution, but the same left-wing blaming of Jews. Why not propose a Palestinian state taking his state of Georgia? After all it is land taken by others from others!
The only result of a Palestinian state will be more violence and death as we have seen when Israel withdrew from Gaza.
Egypt never claimed any part of Israel, so together with the large Sinai desert, there could be a cold peace. Palestinians view all of Israel as occupied territory. They will not be appeased. Calling for on an Israeli withdrawal will only add to demands. Carter doesn’t mention that Palestinians demand the right of return to Israel, which will keep the conflict going for another century or longer.
Carter is not offering a solution, but the same left-wing blaming of Jews. Why not propose a Palestinian state taking his state of Georgia? After all it is land taken by others from others!
8
Thank you President Carter for your your courageous and sensible comments. Most scientific data based on mitochondrial maternal DNA finds the original Jews and Palestinians are more closely related and establishes the origins of Palestinians and their claims. Most of the European jews are just migrants who have no real claim to the land except being jewish. If Israel claims to be only for jews then America claiming to be a christian nation, should be only for Christians !! So the Zionist Jews living in the US really don't belong in the US.. eh! So don't be so cruel to your cousins. There are many many decent and fair jews that see Israel as a country that belongs to all people, especially to Palestinian Arabs and the original jews. Even Mr Netanyahu is not really from Palestine ..is he? So its high time for the Israeli government and its American Zionist friends to face reality and truth and come to a peaceful and acceptable solution for all parties. May be President Obama's last act should be one of Peace.
3
You were my first vote for POTUS and you have proven me right ever since in spite of losing.
If only half of the republicans were as decent a man as you the entire world would be different today.
If only half of the republicans were as decent a man as you the entire world would be different today.
2
As usual, Jimmy Carter (aka my favorite president of all) makes so much sense! But, sadly, pro-Jewish state lobbyists will likely continue to dominate politics.
This conflict has fueled much if not all the terrorist hatred towards us and essentially ruined our economy in the process by funding wars and Israel, arguably a terrorist regime in its own right.
This conflict has fueled much if not all the terrorist hatred towards us and essentially ruined our economy in the process by funding wars and Israel, arguably a terrorist regime in its own right.
2
"Palestine" is not a state. The "Palestinians" do not want peace. They rejected the Oslo Accords and every other attempt by statesmen to bring them peace. They have said that they will only be satisfied if they get all of the territory west of the State of Jordan that was part of the British Mandate. They fought several aggressive wars to try to get the territory of the State of Israel and they lost. They could have had half of the land in the area that was the 1967 boundaries if they had agreed in 1948 to the United Nations plan. Instead, they started a war and lost it and that land.
8
There is not nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be an Arab state of "Palestine". The Mandate for Palestine created a Jewish state that encompasses Israel and modern Jordan, which was subsequently revised to provide the Jewish state west of the Jordan river and the Arab state East of the Jordan River in what is now the country of Jordan. The country of Jordan along with 4 other Arab armies invaded the State of Israel the moment it was officially declared and then illegally occupied the "West Bank" of the Jordan river from 1948-1967. The West Bank, inherently and legally part of the State of Israel as authorized under the Mandate, was recaptured by Israel when it prevailed against Jordan, Egypt, and Syria when those countries precipitated a war of anihilation against Israel. There was no peace from 1948-1967 and no declaration of a "Palestinian State" in those years when Jordan ruled it, precisely because Jordan was that State and there was no separate national or ethnic Arab group known as "Palestinians" who militated for such a state. The formation of yet another Arab statelet in Judea and Samaria, which undoubtedly will be another chaotic, nonproductive, terrorist launchpad in the model of Gaza, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, etc. is a nonstarter, irrespective of what the irrelevant former President Carter would like.
9
Finally, someone who knows and understands history!
5
When the Palestinians abrogate the right of return and Hamas removes their promise to destroy Israel you're gonna see a two-state solution. Until then the ball is in the Palestinians' court. Yes, the Israels are becoming more truculent and they should not build settlements that are going to be a headache to tear down, but after decades of hatred from the Palestinian side now you have both sides hunkered down and embittered. Pressuring Israel is not going to do any good. They don't have the key to the Palestinian prison ... the Palestinians can walk out of their own self-made prison whenever they choose. But they have to give up the right of return, and Hamas has to remove the destruction of Israel as a facet of its charter. W., no rocket scientist in foreign policy, to put it mildly, showed at least some sense in this context. Mr. Carter, who is a ministering angel on other fronts, doesn't grasp the dynamic here.
7
Israel has done everything possible to avoid recognition of Palestinian state, and in case it happens, they want to prolong it as much as possible and grab more and more territory, so when there is finally a President in United States willing to recognise Palestine, the Israelis will say there is no Palestinian land left to be recognised.
2
Mr Carter: with all due respect, you are not Jewish. Nor are you an Israeli. Please do not tell Israel what they must and must not do.
38
Agree or disagree with Mr carter's stance, US support for Israel has been so staunch and decisive, not to mention costly in treasure and status, that it has a legitimate voice in the search for peace. don't want that, then don't heed the advice.
1
Mr Churchill: With all due respect, you are not Jewish. Nor are you a German. Please do not tell Germans what what they must and must not do. M J Earl
But it is OK for Israel to tell the U.S. what it should or should not do, including which President to elect?
Great piece by Carter, the only president ever to advance the peace process in any significant way in our history. Too bad Israel murdered Rabin and since has been taken over by people who no more want a two-state peace than they want to sing "Kumbaya" with Iran, so they've shamelessly broken the Camp David agreement and thumbed their nose at the UN and the world, with results for Israel that are obvious everywhere. Israel's tragic misfortune has been the capacity of the Israel Lobby and the Shel Adelsons of America to buy so many members of Congress, and often presidents as well, that Likud and Netanyahu have felt so backed by America that they have felt free to thumb their nose at the opinion of humanity even more than South Africa once tried to do. This nose thumbing is very rapidly driving Israel into a cul-de-sac of international moral opprobrium very much like that which brought down apartheid in South Africa. As this cup-de-sac gets narrower and narrower, even a right-wing government in America is not going to be able to protect Israel forever, especially since more and more American Jews--wonderful humanitarian liberal fighters of oppression everywhere, including Israel--are turning on Likud Israel and creating a second Israel lobby which may end up being even more powerful for justice than AIPAC has been for shameless settlements and oppression.
3
Poor Mr. Carter. Irrelevant then, irrelevant now.
His Camp David accord accomplished nothing, and neither will this column.
The US need not do anything. This is a problem between Israel and the Palestinians/Arabs.
They chose to attack Israel, Israel chose to defend itself.
If 50 years pass without a single suicide attack or missile coming from Palestine into Israel, then we can talk.
Until then, Palestinians can pound sand and Mr. Carter can pound his keyboard.
His Camp David accord accomplished nothing, and neither will this column.
The US need not do anything. This is a problem between Israel and the Palestinians/Arabs.
They chose to attack Israel, Israel chose to defend itself.
If 50 years pass without a single suicide attack or missile coming from Palestine into Israel, then we can talk.
Until then, Palestinians can pound sand and Mr. Carter can pound his keyboard.
6
This is how something written by the President of the United States should read. Intelligent, informed. Compare to the barrage of inane tweets over the past year.
3
I agree. Whether or not one concurs with President Carter's reasoning or conclusions, one must be impressed by his sincerity, logic, thoughtfulness, and most especially humility.
Mr President,
The sincerity of your peacemaking is inspirational. The logic in this case, however, is flawed.
The original design of the State of Israel had a border so thin in the middle, that the large Arab armies surrounding it would cut the country in half if given the opportunity. I was almost a cruel trick by the British designers of the post war ME States. These borders were arbitrary and neglected the tribal and religious nature of the Lavant. Jewish connection to Jerusalem is deep, lasting for thousands of years. And in spite of all this, they would make peace in a heartbeat if they had even an inkling that their opposition would not seek Israeli destruction. If the Arabs laid down their arms, there would be peace tomorrow. If the Israelis laid down their arms, tomorrow there would be no more Israel.
The sincerity of your peacemaking is inspirational. The logic in this case, however, is flawed.
The original design of the State of Israel had a border so thin in the middle, that the large Arab armies surrounding it would cut the country in half if given the opportunity. I was almost a cruel trick by the British designers of the post war ME States. These borders were arbitrary and neglected the tribal and religious nature of the Lavant. Jewish connection to Jerusalem is deep, lasting for thousands of years. And in spite of all this, they would make peace in a heartbeat if they had even an inkling that their opposition would not seek Israeli destruction. If the Arabs laid down their arms, there would be peace tomorrow. If the Israelis laid down their arms, tomorrow there would be no more Israel.
6
The UN, which caused this mess in the first place, needs to make clear that it will IMPOSE a solution upon the parties, militarily if need be, whether the parties like it or not. The US should support that.
The Middle East dilemma was essentially created in 1948 when the UN imperfectly gave a state to Jews by recognizing Israel, mostly at Palestinian expense, to make recompense for what the Germans did. If the Germans had not done what they did there would probably be no State of Israel today.
The UN should IMPOSE reasonable borders upon the parties based on where people actually live today, (not in 1948, 1967 or 2,000 years ago), and recognize a Palestinian state on the West Bank. Gaza should be its own state. The UN should enforce these borders with an armed UN force.
Jews, like the settlers, who will find themselves on the Palestinian side of the border can move if they don't like it or stay and become citizens of the State of Palestine. Israel has Arabs, Palestine can have Jews. It's the same thing.
You know what you get when you take peoples' property for no money and relegate them to refugee status? 68 years of war.
All people in the region, INCLUDING JEWS, who lost property as a result of the UN's creation of Israel should be compensated as under the legal Doctrine of Eminent Domain. Go to a UN Middle East Compensation Commission office, present your claim, sign a Release, and walk out with a check. That's fair.
The Middle East dilemma was essentially created in 1948 when the UN imperfectly gave a state to Jews by recognizing Israel, mostly at Palestinian expense, to make recompense for what the Germans did. If the Germans had not done what they did there would probably be no State of Israel today.
The UN should IMPOSE reasonable borders upon the parties based on where people actually live today, (not in 1948, 1967 or 2,000 years ago), and recognize a Palestinian state on the West Bank. Gaza should be its own state. The UN should enforce these borders with an armed UN force.
Jews, like the settlers, who will find themselves on the Palestinian side of the border can move if they don't like it or stay and become citizens of the State of Palestine. Israel has Arabs, Palestine can have Jews. It's the same thing.
You know what you get when you take peoples' property for no money and relegate them to refugee status? 68 years of war.
All people in the region, INCLUDING JEWS, who lost property as a result of the UN's creation of Israel should be compensated as under the legal Doctrine of Eminent Domain. Go to a UN Middle East Compensation Commission office, present your claim, sign a Release, and walk out with a check. That's fair.
1
Establishing a Jewish State was not at Palestinian expense. In 1948, one third of the people living in Palestine were Jews so Jews were entitled to one third of the land.
2
The United States supports a negotiated two-state solution. Unilaterally recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state -- without requiring the Palestinians to guarantee something of equal value to Israel in return -- is not a negotiation. It is gratuitously stabbing our ally Israel in the back. Indeed, President Carter admits that this betrayal would be part of an even greater betrayal: "make it easier for other countries that have not recognized Palestine to do so, and . . . clear the way for a Security Council resolution on the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." In other words, hand Israel over to its enemies in the United Nations on a silver platter.
A negotiated peace finds a solution acceptable to both parties. It does not impose a solution on an unwilling party -- and especially when that unwilling party is supposed to be our friend. And it does not entail surrendering your most valuable chip for nothing in return.
A negotiated peace finds a solution acceptable to both parties. It does not impose a solution on an unwilling party -- and especially when that unwilling party is supposed to be our friend. And it does not entail surrendering your most valuable chip for nothing in return.
6
Peace plan based on 1967 boarders, Jimmy, that bus left the station a long time ago in 1967. I would like to hear today, today, a credible peace plan from the PLO. Don't hold your breath. As long as the PLO get billions from the UN nothing is going to happen. Cash talks. Jimmy
9
Not sure where the Palestinian territories are located. Gaza was Egyptian territory , Golan Heights were Syrian lands and The West Bank was Jordanian land. All were taken by Israel after the 6 day war. I'm guessing Israel would not mind giving Gaza back to Egypt, but Egypt doesn't want that headache. Israel would be insane to give back the Golan Heights, and Jordan has shown no recent interest in taking back the West Bank.
Ultimately the Palestinians want a one state solution, with Israel driven into the sea.
Ultimately the Palestinians want a one state solution, with Israel driven into the sea.
8
Thank you, President Carter, for this courageous statement. I respectfully submit, however, that the time for a two-state solution is past. Since Palestinians do not wish to recognize the current Israeli state, and since Netanyahu's regime has done everything it can to sabotage the creation of a Palestinian state, the only alternative is a NO-state solution. Turn the whole territory into a UN protectorate; disarm both Palestinians AND Israel's gigantic military machine (the US can save billions there); provide for fair and equal access to water, food, housing, health care, and education; quit throwing Palestinians off land they have occupied for generations; allow time for civil institutions and a balanced economy to develop; fight apartheid; and give the whole region a 50-year cooling off period. Otherwise -- we wonder why most of the Middle East hates us?
1
Brother Jimmy, you are a student of the Bible. God is quite clear that the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish nation, from whom Jesus Christ our Savior came. Moreover there is already a Palestinian state with a majority Palestinian population. It is called Jordan. I wish you the best brother but keep God's Word in mind.
7
Sigh. All this God-bandying is the root of the problem. If 'God' wants one particular group to have this particular plot of ground, He or She or It or They need to intervene directly right now. Or we need to admit this 'God' doesn't exist, that a collection of ancient folktales and traditions, whether Torah, Gospels, Qu'ran or anything else, doesn't constitute a valid deed of title for *anyone*, Jew, Christian or Muslim, and we're on our own to settle our own disputes.
Bravo Mr. Carter. Any chance we can have you run for President again too?
2
In nearly eight (8) years, President Barack Obama diplomatic efforts to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip have proven a dismal failure. Hillary Clinton, for all her leadership claims as Secretary of State, proved incapable of bringing peace between Israel and the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza Strip.
With less than two months left as President, it is ridiculous to even suggest Barack Obama take definitive action by recognizing Palestine. Obama is nothing more than a political coward who avoided controversy at all costs as the American people waited for signs of forceful leadership. Barack's failures were the poison that killed Hillary's campaign.
With less than two months left as President, it is ridiculous to even suggest Barack Obama take definitive action by recognizing Palestine. Obama is nothing more than a political coward who avoided controversy at all costs as the American people waited for signs of forceful leadership. Barack's failures were the poison that killed Hillary's campaign.
6
Jimmy wants to free Palestine. The question he won't answer is: free to do what exactly? End up another dysfunctional jihadi state like Gaza lobbing missiles and digging terror tunnels into the heartland of Israel, still sworn to its destruction because it's easier than having to actually make something of their lives as the Kurds have done in Kurdistan and accept responsibility for any of their predicament? BTW: Why is it Jimmy and his ilk lose so much sleep over a small group of Arabs who could have had a state anytime they wanted in the last 75 years if they had actually agreed to the numerous offers of statehood even though when ruled by Jordan never uttered a peep of protest over that occupation nor ever expressed any separate sense of nationhood until by coincidence the Jews managed to return to their historic homeland; but could care less for the Kurds (the largest nation in the world -- 20 million people -- with their own language and culture and distinct history, screwed by the Arabs, the Turks, the Iranians, the British -- who remain stateless; yet never have nor do they now dream of annihilating any of their neighbors.
12
We don’t need a 2-state solution. We need a 3-state solution. The much bandied about “2-state solution” consisting of Israel plus a bifurcated Palestinian state made up of the West Bank and Gaza, separated by Israel, is ridiculous.
5
Gaza needs to be its own independent state. The tricky part will be keeping Iran and its cohorts out.
2
I admire President Carter’s courage and sense of justice, but a separate Palestine would for a long time be little more than an oppressed colony of the Israeli state, and very likely subject to episodic bombing and invasion by the IDF.
Better by far would be a one-state union of all the people, Judaic and Arab. No more racial segregation or walls! Here’s to the future state of Israeli-Palestine, with equal rights and an equal vote for every inhabitant.
Better by far would be a one-state union of all the people, Judaic and Arab. No more racial segregation or walls! Here’s to the future state of Israeli-Palestine, with equal rights and an equal vote for every inhabitant.
39
The only Arabs in the Middle East who have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly & the vote are the Arabs living in Israel. Combining Israel & Palestine into one state which would soon become majority-Arab will mean that the Arabs living in Israel would lose freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly & the vote because no majority-Arab country allows these freedoms.
2
"Better by far would be a one-state union of all the people, Judaic and Arab."
And what it the people involved don't want that option?
And what it the people involved don't want that option?
1
President Carter should have a conversation with President Clinton and perhaps he would understand that President Clinton tried to negotiate a peace between Israel PM Barak and Palestinian Chairman Arafat and it was Arafat that turned it down. In 2001, Arafat turned down peace in Taba, and in 2008, the current (unelected) leader Abbas turned down PM Olmert.
When given the opportunity to elect their own government in 2006, the Palestinians elected Hamas over Fatah. Hamas a terrorist organization according to Israel, the US, and the EU, refuses to recognize Israel. There were supposed to be elections in 2010 but they have still not happened. Hamas and Mr. Abbas rule without a mandate from the Palestinian people.
Thus, not only did Chairman Arafat and Mr. Abbas turn down 3 peace agreements, but the Palestinians gave the mandate to govern to a government that refuses to recognize Israel. Thus, it appears that it is the Palestinians that do not want a peace agreement otherwise they would have elected Fatah.
Presidents Obama and Carter and the UN Security Council should pressure the Palestinians to have new elections so they can elect a government willing to sign a peace agreement. Only when a government has a mandate to negotiate for the Palestinian people can there be a peace agreement.
When given the opportunity to elect their own government in 2006, the Palestinians elected Hamas over Fatah. Hamas a terrorist organization according to Israel, the US, and the EU, refuses to recognize Israel. There were supposed to be elections in 2010 but they have still not happened. Hamas and Mr. Abbas rule without a mandate from the Palestinian people.
Thus, not only did Chairman Arafat and Mr. Abbas turn down 3 peace agreements, but the Palestinians gave the mandate to govern to a government that refuses to recognize Israel. Thus, it appears that it is the Palestinians that do not want a peace agreement otherwise they would have elected Fatah.
Presidents Obama and Carter and the UN Security Council should pressure the Palestinians to have new elections so they can elect a government willing to sign a peace agreement. Only when a government has a mandate to negotiate for the Palestinian people can there be a peace agreement.
102
Reality:
Working in tandem, Barak and Clinton tried to shove a very bad deal down Arafat's throat during the 2000 Camp David Summit. It could only be rejected. Suffice to quote Shlomo Ben-Ami, then Israel’s foreign minister and lead negotiator at Camp David: "Camp David was not the missed opportunity for the Palestinians, and if I were a Palestinian I would have rejected Camp David, as well." (National Public Radio, 14 February 2006.)
Shlomo Ben-Ami, Israel's foreign minister, set the record straight regarding the suspension of Taba II: "Despite reports to the contrary in Israel, however, Mr. Arafat never turned down '97 percent of the West Bank' at Taba, as many Israelis hold. The negotiations were suspended by Israel because elections were imminent [February 2001] and 'the pressure of Israeli public opinion against the talks could not be resisted '...." ("Quest for Mideast Peace: How and Why It Failed," Deborah Sontag, New York Times, 26 July 2001)
The "offer" made in 2008 by Ehud Olmert was never seen as serious because it lacked cabinet approval and he was under indictment with only a few weeks left in office, had a 6% favorable rating, and, therefore, couldn't have closed the deal, even if the Palestinians had accepted it. Olmert is currently in prison.
Working in tandem, Barak and Clinton tried to shove a very bad deal down Arafat's throat during the 2000 Camp David Summit. It could only be rejected. Suffice to quote Shlomo Ben-Ami, then Israel’s foreign minister and lead negotiator at Camp David: "Camp David was not the missed opportunity for the Palestinians, and if I were a Palestinian I would have rejected Camp David, as well." (National Public Radio, 14 February 2006.)
Shlomo Ben-Ami, Israel's foreign minister, set the record straight regarding the suspension of Taba II: "Despite reports to the contrary in Israel, however, Mr. Arafat never turned down '97 percent of the West Bank' at Taba, as many Israelis hold. The negotiations were suspended by Israel because elections were imminent [February 2001] and 'the pressure of Israeli public opinion against the talks could not be resisted '...." ("Quest for Mideast Peace: How and Why It Failed," Deborah Sontag, New York Times, 26 July 2001)
The "offer" made in 2008 by Ehud Olmert was never seen as serious because it lacked cabinet approval and he was under indictment with only a few weeks left in office, had a 6% favorable rating, and, therefore, couldn't have closed the deal, even if the Palestinians had accepted it. Olmert is currently in prison.
2
Every human being under Israeli dominion by occupation, blockade/siege, exile and second class citizenship should vote in one election for their mutually inclusive one-state leaders.
Unless and until the 4.5 million Christian Muslim Arab Palestinians living in Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have the same voting citizenship rights as the 2.5 million Christian Muslim Arab Palestinian Israeli's then they are free to use the same "peaceful" remedies as the Founding Fathers of America and Israel. The 6.1 million Zionist Jewish Israeli's are the ruling reigning masters.
The Zionist Jewish Israeli "peace" includes taking control of every piece of the best land of the Palestinians by any means necessary paid for by the gift of American arms.
Unless and until the 4.5 million Christian Muslim Arab Palestinians living in Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights have the same voting citizenship rights as the 2.5 million Christian Muslim Arab Palestinian Israeli's then they are free to use the same "peaceful" remedies as the Founding Fathers of America and Israel. The 6.1 million Zionist Jewish Israeli's are the ruling reigning masters.
The Zionist Jewish Israeli "peace" includes taking control of every piece of the best land of the Palestinians by any means necessary paid for by the gift of American arms.
2
The US has in theory supported a two-state solution but in practice has always given de facto approval to Israel, whatever it has done. US leaders have tried to convince Israeli leaders to stop assimilation of the West Bank, but there have been no consequences if the urgings have not been followed.
What Mr. Carter says is true, but there are no signs that it would ever happen.
What Mr. Carter says is true, but there are no signs that it would ever happen.
18
To be fair, what Mr. Carter is asking of Mr. Obama while absurd on the face of it, is something Obama has excelled in. He`s asking the President to fire symbolic shots in the air i.e. unilateral utterances and orders that are ideologically powerful but amount to nothing but trouble.
It`s something Obama has proven he`s remarkably good at especially irking Israel. Which is why Carter is asking Obama to irritate Bibi one more time. Play it again Barack, drive Bibi up the wall, special request from Georgia, pretty please play that song.
What Carter fails to mention is most of Europe and Canada are not on board i.e. not part of the 137 nations recognizing Palestine. He also makes no apologies to publicly asking an outgoing president to throw a spanner in the works for the incoming one. Outrageous and inappropriate. There has to be a better way to make it into Trump`s tweets.
It`s pathetic to see a respected and much loved ex-President waste his prestige on matters that are best left alone, where his participation serves only to incite and provoke and not sooth. Surely there are problems more local Carter can involve himself in? How is adult education and literacy doing over there? Not very well going by Carter here: mostly graffiti and tripe.
It`s something Obama has proven he`s remarkably good at especially irking Israel. Which is why Carter is asking Obama to irritate Bibi one more time. Play it again Barack, drive Bibi up the wall, special request from Georgia, pretty please play that song.
What Carter fails to mention is most of Europe and Canada are not on board i.e. not part of the 137 nations recognizing Palestine. He also makes no apologies to publicly asking an outgoing president to throw a spanner in the works for the incoming one. Outrageous and inappropriate. There has to be a better way to make it into Trump`s tweets.
It`s pathetic to see a respected and much loved ex-President waste his prestige on matters that are best left alone, where his participation serves only to incite and provoke and not sooth. Surely there are problems more local Carter can involve himself in? How is adult education and literacy doing over there? Not very well going by Carter here: mostly graffiti and tripe.
7
Aren't there any leaders left with half the peaceful spirit like Carter's? Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize - this is the least he could do. The Palestinian situation has been at the core of the muslim unrest giving rise to terrorism. Still none of the leaders have made it their priority to solve this issue while the settlements keep growing and encroaching the palestinian territory - making it more and more difficult to find a resolution.
13
If those involved were led by reality of existence rather than the fiction of belief wars would not exist. There will be no peace until truth is accepted by all involved.
3
38 years and still no prospect of acceptance by the Palestinians or peace. The two-state formula was, and still is, nothing more than a chimera. It was as much a theoretical solution to a real world problem put forth by a philosopher than was the League of Nations.
3
Theory becomes reality. Try your hand and some Arendt. Or if philosophy is too much for you, take a look at how fiction stretches technologically oriented imaginations.
Yes, blessed are the peacemakers. President Carter is one of the them, but I think of who the other one is.
But if persistence pays, thank you President Carter for reminding us there are options besides ignorance, hatred, and war--which sadly seem to be the preferred choices in the world today.
But if persistence pays, thank you President Carter for reminding us there are options besides ignorance, hatred, and war--which sadly seem to be the preferred choices in the world today.
17
This is not Solomon's dilemma, where the true mother needed to be identified. This is two dogs fighting over the same bone, so it demands a different solution. Breaking the bone in two is the only reasonable fix, and President Carter is right to suggest it.
16
Dear President Carter, please let me foremost applaud your engagement, wit and resolve to still work and write thoughtful editorials at the age of 92. Thank you! You are an inspiration in comparison to the currently elected, selfcentered, intellectually challenged and disinterested human shell yet to take office. Your plea to recognize Palestine now certainly does not come hapharzardly, but is rather steeped in the fear that a proposed Jared Kushner excursion into hobby diplomacy will lead to an outright disaster in the region. A Likud party, led by a political fox like Netanyahu, will not miss the opportunity to outdance the fool in WH to cement the current illegal status quo. Quite contrary, with the support of Adelson, the christian right, and the prospect of a Guiliani as SoS and a John Bolton in the backdrop, another military excursion looms heavily on the horizon. There is no talk by the Jewish settlers to relocate, there is only exclusive reference to propel the Greater Israel agenda all the way to the Euphates river, now more than ever. To proceed to the Euphrates river means war with Iran, something Bolton advocated fully in another editorial several months ago already. Just nobody could foresee that the US would truly turn into a playdough state by its own volition by now. To avoid this massive catastrophy of a third middle eastern war under yet another republican stewardship, we should take the wind of war out of its sails and recognize Palestines statehood.
31
Please specify which law you allege Israel has violated, and which competent court handed down a verdict of "illegality" which you wrongly claim.
1
Very well reasoned and stated. The religious fundamentalists are destroying Israel, and working on it in the United States. Fascism, economic tyranny in the form of economic elitism, and religious extremism are recurring enemies of mankind. Jimmy Carter has fought against these all of his life. He and his wife are blessings to humankind.
Mr. Carter comes across as just another Western Imperialist who wishes to tell other, "lesser" peoples, in places he is not a stakeholder in, how and where to live and who has rights to the land. I will leave the reasons for his motivations for others to debate but I have my suspicions about the true roots of his desire to impose a solution.
8
Jimmy Carter, you have never lived in Israel so what do you think gives you the right, the "authority" or even hint that you can dictate or interfere in a FREE nation ? Remember YOUR fiasco in the rescue of the American hostages at the embassy in Tehran? YOU refused Israel's help - and the consequences are now part of the most disastrous mistakes in American history. Mr. Carter, go back to growing peanuts, and leave the Chosen People alone!!!
1
We've seen this movie and more than once. The cast changes with every re-run but the final scene is always the same: handshakes at a photo opportunity and then…fade to black. Arabs living in the Palestinian territory could have established their own state beginning in 1948 and at many times since, including with President Carter's Camp David Accords. But instead they're still hoping for an ending that has the Jews driven into the sea. But that's just not in the script.
But the ending
But the ending
6
Here, here Mr. President. It seems as though with the trump election Israelis are moving even more quickly to settle Palestinian land. We are quickly reaching a point of no return when it will be impossible to reach a two state solution and tensions in the region will only broil from there. This is our chance to provide Palestine with the bargaining chips they need to secure their dignity, and to achieve a sustainable peace in the region.
9
When exactly and by what law did "Palestinian land" ever come into existence. They attacked the Jewish state before and after it was re-established. And they lost, repeatedly. The core problem of the conflict is the Arab refusal to countenance ANY Jewish national expression in any part of its ancestral homeland. Changing that is the only "bargaining chip" that a necessary.
3
President Carter, reading your words reminds me that our politicians once held loftier goals than "draining swamps". It reminds me that even recently our nation enjoyed a political landscape where intelligent discussion based on verifiable information and a modicum of goodwill might move mountains. I feel emotionally spent and fear a not-very brave, new world. God bless you, sir.
14
The primary foreign policy goal of my life has been to help bring peace to Israel and its neighbors. That September in 1978, I was proud to say to a joint session of Congress, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
IMO, Jimmy Carter has tried to bring peace to a region that has seen constant conflict for decades if not centuries. There are always obstacles, but most of the time they are created by the differences of the sides. Why is it that the sides in this case can not come to an agreement? They did at Camp David, or was that a lie?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. God bless Jimmy Carter.
IMO, Jimmy Carter has tried to bring peace to a region that has seen constant conflict for decades if not centuries. There are always obstacles, but most of the time they are created by the differences of the sides. Why is it that the sides in this case can not come to an agreement? They did at Camp David, or was that a lie?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. God bless Jimmy Carter.
11
Jimmy Carter is bang on again. The Camp David accord must live on. Recognition of Palestine is mandatory to maintain regional peace. This could be Obama's last opportunity to firmly entrench his legacy, before the new administration takes over. I truly admire President Carter for his service to the country and world peace.
14
Please show where Camp David says ANYTHING about "recognizing" a Palestinian state.
1
Any set of parameters for the resolution of the conflict cannot be more exhaustive and equitable than the Clinton Parameters and see what happened to them.
The real issue is cessation of mutual animosities which won't evaporate overnight by some magic UNSC document.
only the US has capacity to resolve this conflict, only if they could refuse acting "against their better judgement"!
The real issue is cessation of mutual animosities which won't evaporate overnight by some magic UNSC document.
only the US has capacity to resolve this conflict, only if they could refuse acting "against their better judgement"!
22
Netanyahu understands that Israel is the land of the JEWISH people. Why does Jimmy Carter not?
8
And Netanyahu is a war monger. This issue is and always will be the elephant in the room! Would you condone the U.S. occupying Japan or Germany since WWII?! That is exactly what Israel is doing. Most Jews in Israel do NOT support Netanyahu and his policy of occupation through force! I find it very ironic that you call yourself Yoda who said, “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. ..."
Yoda, I think your time traveling from a galaxy far, far away has weakened your powers of reason. There is no inherently Jewish land--or should we devolve back into tribal territories?
The Zionist PR slogan of "you are either with us or against us" is one of the most successful political tools ever. Personally I prefer President Carter's, "Palestine: Peace or Apartheid?"
10
I prefer the former slogan.
There is no "Palestine". Never was.
2
Something the writers of many of the comment have neglected to consider is the seeming inability of Palestinians to agree among themselves. A particularly piercing, meaningful example of the latter was the recent inauguration of an art museum in Palestinian territory. On the day of its inauguration the museum was empty. There are Palestinian artists, but the new museum was empty. One wonders why.
8
When Palestinian schools stop teaching raw antisemitism; when Palestinian and Arab leaders formally and publicly recognize Israel's right to exist; when Palestinian leaders change their charter to delete the call to destroy Israel; then perhaps peace will have the chance to prevail.
The Muslim world appears to take the position, anathema to western values, that "once Muslim, always Muslim," applicable to individuals and land. Muslims appear deny free expression as a fundamental value (remember the Danish cartoons?). Yet, many liberal westerners allow themselves hypocritical views when it comes to Israel. Do they secretly hate Jews? Resent Israel for abandoning socialism? Why do they focus on Israel's (sometimes serious) imperfections and ignore much worse behavior in many nations around the world, from Mugabe to Maduro to Duterte?
Why so quick to criticize Israel while seeming to ignore intra-Muslim violence, from Pakistan to Iraq/Iran, to Lebanon's Sunnis vs. Shias, to Yemen, to ISIS, Caucasus and North Africa? Muslim nations appear not to be able to abide one another. Is this not a clue as to the source of the violence in the Middle East? Is not Israel an island of Democracy in a region of authoritarian regimes?