edited by Lauren Abuouf
A Salute To Carter
Published in Al Ahram
(Egypt) on 20 December, 2008
by Mohamed Ameen El-Masry (link to original)
Perhaps we can learn from the experience of former American President Jimmy Carter, who was exposed to Israeli and Jewish anger after he published his book "Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid".
He suffered grievously for linking the apartheid system that was enforced in South Africa with Israel’s racial discrimination against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.
Despite his status as former President of the U.S., and as a peaceful man, with a reputation for being impartial and neutral, Carter made an "unforgivable mistake" when he announced this stunning fact. Also confessing that as an American, he identifies with the Hebrew and Israeli people.
Carter was so courageous that he announced another fact that an American president would never admit, but that is also very clear, namely that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) vigorously pressures to prevent any kind of balanced approach to facts [about the relations] between the Palestinian and Israeli people.
If any Senator were to attempt to take a balanced attitude about Palestine and Israel, and would suggest international law should be applied to Israel, or would support the Palestinian cause, he is destined for political suicide and would not be re-elected.
It is worth mentioning that Carter said it clearly, "As a result of pressures from AIPAC, no serious peaceful conversations have been held and naturally none will be held if the situation continues as it is now.”
Carter's speech and his serious remarks were important because they were made by a responsible person who does not lie, because his words were rooted in the truth.
Although Carter knew that he would face unfavorable reactions as a result of his frankness, he made his comments anyway.
The Israeli people attacked him and ignored his merit when he agreed to provide them with $3.2 billion annually in economic and military aid after signing the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. This treaty saved Israel hundreds of billions of dollars that would have been spent on armaments and security along its border with Egypt.
Recently, Carter resumed talking about the peace effort after his visit to Damascus and his meeting with Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad. This time it concerned a Syrian-Israeli peace, and not a Palestinian-Israeli peace, that he spoke of, hoping [this would help] to ensure the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
In fact, we know that Syrians want real peace, one that will restore their occupied Golan. Meanwhile, Lake Tiberias is more important than Golan Heights; there were lengthy discussions in the mid-nineties regarding Israel's readiness to give back the territory.
But Israel refused to submit to the wish of the elder President Al-Assad, [Bashar’s father, Hafez] who reminisced about swimming in Lake Tiberias.
Finally, Carter is an American president who deserves appreciation and should be listened to; he is a respected person.
He suffered grievously for linking the apartheid system that was enforced in South Africa with Israel’s racial discrimination against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.
Despite his status as former President of the U.S., and as a peaceful man, with a reputation for being impartial and neutral, Carter made an "unforgivable mistake" when he announced this stunning fact. Also confessing that as an American, he identifies with the Hebrew and Israeli people.
Carter was so courageous that he announced another fact that an American president would never admit, but that is also very clear, namely that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) vigorously pressures to prevent any kind of balanced approach to facts [about the relations] between the Palestinian and Israeli people.
If any Senator were to attempt to take a balanced attitude about Palestine and Israel, and would suggest international law should be applied to Israel, or would support the Palestinian cause, he is destined for political suicide and would not be re-elected.
It is worth mentioning that Carter said it clearly, "As a result of pressures from AIPAC, no serious peaceful conversations have been held and naturally none will be held if the situation continues as it is now.”
Carter's speech and his serious remarks were important because they were made by a responsible person who does not lie, because his words were rooted in the truth.
Although Carter knew that he would face unfavorable reactions as a result of his frankness, he made his comments anyway.
The Israeli people attacked him and ignored his merit when he agreed to provide them with $3.2 billion annually in economic and military aid after signing the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. This treaty saved Israel hundreds of billions of dollars that would have been spent on armaments and security along its border with Egypt.
Recently, Carter resumed talking about the peace effort after his visit to Damascus and his meeting with Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad. This time it concerned a Syrian-Israeli peace, and not a Palestinian-Israeli peace, that he spoke of, hoping [this would help] to ensure the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
In fact, we know that Syrians want real peace, one that will restore their occupied Golan. Meanwhile, Lake Tiberias is more important than Golan Heights; there were lengthy discussions in the mid-nineties regarding Israel's readiness to give back the territory.
But Israel refused to submit to the wish of the elder President Al-Assad, [Bashar’s father, Hafez] who reminisced about swimming in Lake Tiberias.
Finally, Carter is an American president who deserves appreciation and should be listened to; he is a respected person.
he American politicians have been bought out by lobbyists of all sorts!
President Carter has always been a man of integrity. The politicians that answer to ‘AIPAC’, especially the Republicans, have used character assassination and hints of senility in putting down Carter.
These methods are despicable and the media in the United States will not dispute these outrages charges!
Greed has taken over every aspect of life in the United States and we will continue to pay an enormous price for our lack of courage and laziness in allowing our ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES to continue with the charade they perform in Washington!