Jimmy Carter's Foolishness About Israel

NRO: Former President's New Book Rife With Simplistic, Naïve Ideas

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Mona Charen

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Having scolded the Western world for its "inordinate fear of communism," Jimmy Carter is now, 30 years later, attempting to legitimize the shameful Zionism Equals Racism resolution passed and later repealed by the United Nations. The man has a seemingly unerring instinct for error. Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid is touted (by Carter himself) as an evenhanded analysis of the Israeli/Arab conflict — but one need go no further than the title to suspect otherwise.

Carter, like all Israel bashers, proclaims his courage. Please. It takes courage to criticize Israel? The world is teeming with Israel-haters. No other nation in the world — not Russia, not Saudi Arabia, not Cuba — is the subject of so much concentrated calumny. In Europe, as Melanie Phillips recounts in her dazzling book Londonistan, Israel is cursed not just among the rabble but at elegant dinner parties and embassy soirees. And while it's true that in the United States Israel enjoys high levels of support, it is also routinely castigated (and nearly always by people who imagine they are defying some powerful cabal). What is amazing is that even a former president of the United States confuses freedom of speech with freedom from criticism for the content of that speech.

Here's a precis of the book: Israel is the problem. In fact, it's all summed up in the final paragraph: "Peace will come to Israel and the Middle East only when the Israeli government is willing to comply with international law, with the Roadmap for Peace, with official American policy, with the wishes of a majority of its own citizens — and honor its own previous commitments — by accepting its legal borders." By the way, that kind of awkward phrasing is found throughout this slapdash work.

Sixty years of withheld recognition by its neighbors, ceaseless terror against Israeli civilians, countless agreements defaulted upon — none of this disturbs President Carter's certitudes.

The book is so foolish that you can pretty much close your eyes and point to any page to find something simplistic, naïve, or tendentious. On page 97, for example, Carter asserts that "The militant group Hezbollah ... was formed in Lebanon in 1982 to resist the Israeli occupation." Not quite. Hezbollah's founding document calls for Islamic rule in Lebanon, an end to Western imperialism and the destruction of the state of Israel. An arm of the Iranian Islamic revolution, Hezbollah's operatives have been found in France, Spain, Cyprus, Singapore, the "triborder" region of South America and the Philippines, reports Foreign Affairs magazine.

Carter tells the history of the Six-Day War in 1967 this way: "On June 5, Israel launched preemptive strikes, moving first against Egypt and Syria, then against Jordan." That's false. Israel did strike first at Egypt and Syria (waiting to be attacked would have meant national suicide), but specifically called upon Jordan to stay out of the fighting. Jordan's King Hussein, putting faith in Gamal Abdel Nasser's claim that Egypt was defeating Israel, chose to shell Jerusalem. Israel then turned its full might on Jordan, driving them out of Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Carter claims that "The Israelis have never granted any appreciable autonomy to the Palestinians." What? In December 2000, pursuant to the Oslo Accords, Israel (unwisely) gave nearly complete autonomy to the Palestinians in the disputed territories and even gave the Palestinian security forces weapons. In return, the Palestinians were supposed to prevent terror attacks against Israel. Not only did the PA fail to prevent terror attacks, it organized and carried them out.

Explicating last summer's Israel/Hezbollah war, Mr. Carter offers a distorted history. He claims that Hezbollah "attacked two Israeli vehicles, killing three soldiers and capturing two others." Hezbollah did this, Carter explains, in order to exchange them for captives in Israel. Very understandable. But then Israel just went wild, attacking Lebanon without mercy. In fact, Hezbollah's attack on the Israel Defense Forces was accompanied by rocket attacks on several Israeli towns, which wounded several civilians and displaced many others. It was also timed to hit Israel when she was already under attack by Hamas from Gaza.

These are not careless errors, they flow from Carter's pointed animus toward Israel and corresponding softness toward the Arabs (read his elegy to Saudi Arabia if you want to gag). How else to account for the fact that he takes Yasser Arafat's peaceful declarations at face value? Or that he lets slip nasty anti-Semitic asides like this: "It was especially interesting to visit with some of the few surviving Samaritans, who complained to us that their holy sites and culture were not being respected by Israeli authorities — the same complaint heard by Jesus and his disciples almost two thousand years earlier." Those Jews never change, do they? What complaints exactly did Jesus receive about holy sites and culture? We could ask President Carter, but we should know better than to expect an honest answer.

[sty1]

Whe he signed th 55 mile an hour bill, it was the devil in his ear. When he did not go to the olympics, and kick some russian butt, that was the devil in his ear. when he did not drop a multi-megaton nuke on teheran that was a huge mistake. Rember, he was the president of a country that is ruled by the devil. In the last few years it looks like he has finally learned the difference between god and the devils voice. HE MIGHT GO DOWN AS A PROFIT. WOW

[krotec54]

I think the peanuts must be affecting his memory.

[shellyspak]

intersting article. when you have the facts, one can write in a logical manner. Former president Carter a "peace maker and an international election supervisor" does not have the facts. But than on the other hand you can't fully blame him. It's his reasearchers who feed him the wrong information. And if one takes for granted what being fed to him, than he is really a fool person.
The interesting thing is the question of who is Carter trying to please?

He's the same Old Fool that he was when he gave away the Panama Canal. His poor judgment will never be forgotten by those of us old enough to remember. He was the worst president in American history, until George Bush was elected in 2000! That still makes him #2!

[wmb1957]

They print anything on an Opinion page. Its not news so it doesn't have to be and usually isn't fact. This article itself is one sided. The fault lies with both sides. That is actually what Carter's book says, at least in the excerpts I read. Further most of the quotes from the book are taken out of context.

The last quote shows just how biased the writer of this article is. As a devout Christian, it is not unusual that Jimmy Carter would compare the Samaritan situation now to that 2000 year ago. It is this writer that takes it as " Those Jews never change, do they?", not Carter. Yes, I imagine Carter feels for the Samaritan, but he does so without saying the Jewish people are "bad". He does disagree with some of the actions of the Israel government as well as some actions of individuals.

If this is anti-semitic I guess we should put up with it rather then condemn it. We have the right and need to disagree with governments and people. What is called for is respect in allowing others to voice their opinion and discussion without personally attacking others.

[marcopolo51]

Jimmy Carter is not only brave, he is right. Mona Charen on the other hand is a well known media member of the Zionist Mafia. Their schtick does appear to be getting more exposed these days. Just listen to them scream.

[stadler6]

This man hurt our country badly while president and continues to this day. Can someone just lock him up? Or at least no longer give him venue to spit on our values.

[lakerda]

Carter should stick to his charity work and avoid any involvement in policy. After leading the most disastrous administration in US history, creating enough damage to last for a generation to recover from, he had to wake us up and remind us the horrors of having a REALLY stupid president.

This book is pretentious shallow and is written by a closet antisemite

[solady1]

Jimmy Carter, the WORST President in the history of the United States needs to be censured and tried for treason. He is an appeaser who is senile, ignorant and a danger to the United States of America. My father served with Jimmy Carter in the Navy and even back then said that he was stupid and would one day harm this country. That day has come. He needs to be charged with treason by conspiring with our enemies, as an example to the rest of the left wing radical Demon-crats who are destroying this country.Never understimate the power of stupid people in a crowd because they will be known as Democrats.Jimmy Carter is their prime example.

[feelfree1]

Good job Jimmy!!!

It is refreshing to see such a prominent U.S. public figure who is not in the pocket of pro-Zionist hate groups like the AIPAC, JINSA, and the ADL. Unfortunately, most of our politicians have pledged thier unlimited support for the Israeli-rogue-terror-State.

As can be expected, the Israeli apologists are frothing at the mouth with accusations of anti-Semitism. What pro-Israeli extremists seem to routinely forget, however, is that Arabs are also Semites.

The pro-Israelis don't seem to understand this fact. It is not surprising though, since they seem to think that the Israeli Jews are the "chosen people" of "God", based on a 2000 year old book of fairy tales. Everyone else seems to be less worthy of respect in their myopic view.

[feelfree1]

This author, like other Israeli apologists, seems to think that having a couple of soldiers captured justifies the illegal invasion of another country, devastation of that country's civilian infrastructue, environmental davastation, and the mass-murder of a thousand innocent civilians.

Here is a film for those of you who wish to aquaint yourselves with some of the disgusting barbarity of the Israeli terror-State:

www.youtube.com/watch?v
=xOpB1x5Qzyg

The film highlights some of the atrocities committed against the civlians of Lebanon during the recent Israeli invasion of that country.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Peace will come to Israel and the Middle East only when the Israeli government is willing to comply with international law,..."

Excellent point, Jimmy, and a very brave statement to make in the face of the pro-Israeli extremist hit squads that have infested our country.

If the Israelis simply demonstrated some respect for the rule of law, and for common decency, they could probably rejoin the human race.

Israelis have become their own worst oppressors, and their country will continue to decay unless they can demonstrate some dignity and decency, which does not seem likely.

[feelfree1]

What is really amusing, is that among Israelis, Olmert's favorability ratings dropped to 20% after his disgraceful defeat by Hezbullah forces, and the approval ratings of the defense minister stood at 14%!!!

Meanwhile, their favorability ratings among the Israeli apoliogists, here in the U.S., appears to be at 110%!!! What a joke!!!

[hardrocker11]

X pres Jimmy Carter was an ineffective, wishy-washy president and now his dementia is showing itself in his thinking, or rather, the lack thereof. For the US to abandon Israel is to do so at our(US)peril. When it comes to the Jewish people and Israel, God does keep score.

[duffyn]

I'm with Jimmy Carter on this one. Of course, the author of the article is simply "sticking up" for Israel. The Jewish lobby in our congress is one of the strongest. Jews own lots of major media in this country. I'm not bashing Jews - or Arabs. I think we all need to look at both sides equally - not just jump in and support one side or the other. Like my Mom used to say - "it takes two people (or countries) to fight".

[nynative1340]

%u2026continued from above.

As for Iran, Eisenhower alone is responsible for everything that has gone wrong in Iran. In 1953 Eisenhower overthrew a democracy in Iran and installed a tyrant dictator called the 'Shah.' (All for oil.) Or relations with Iran have gone downhill ever since. Carter showed the same courage to avoid conflict with Iran that Reagan showed in avoiding conflict with Lebanon when over 250 Marines were killed in the Marine barracks in Beirut. Besides, as of today, no one, including any of you, has a solution for fighting terrorists.

In fact, Reagan had the Iran Embassy hostages held until the very hour he became president. What kind of MAN would do that!

Carter didn't give away the Panama Canal. Panama was never a "U.S. territory' and therefore the canal was never ours. Read the history of why it was given back.

The 55-MPH bill? That's a petty complaint. Go read about the energy crisis at that time. Carter was the exact opposite of the BIG spenders we've had in the White House since. Perhaps we could use some of his energy smarts today, since we are approaching $4/gallon gas prices.

Carter's major achievement was peace between Israel and Egypt, a peace that has lasted to this day.

You don't have to like him and you don't have to agree with him, but go read your history before you make stupid comments. The same people who hate Carter probably LOVE the job BUSH is doing.

[didedoodah]

I think theIsraelis have made mistakes just as the Palestinians have. America is heavily pro-Israel and we often don't get a balanced view of what is happening. There will be no peace until both sides decide peace is the priority.

[nynative1340]

I don't necessarily agree with Carter, since he hasn't stated the facts correctly, but I could never take for face value what the far-right NRO says, since their facts are also cloudy. The NROs sole purpose is to attack democrats. However, it wouldn't take much research to learn the neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians wanted the Oslo Accord and neither side trusted the other one iota. Read the history.

As far as the forming of Hezbollah--if one of their purposes is the 'destruction of Israel' then they must think that Israel might one day occupy Lebanon. After all, Israel did fight with Lebanon.

As for the Carter bashers on this board: Get a life!

"Jimmy Carter, the WORST president..." Not even close. He may not be the greatest president, but the worst? Please. You have a very short memory. The WORST president is still sitting in the White House!! Read your current history of the last six years!! Stupid people don't become nuclear engineers. (And SMART people do much better than a "C average" at Yale.) Perhaps your father was a biased republican.

Continued below%u2026

[sandycat2]

nynative, I would be interested at how Reagan had the Iran hostages held until the moment he was inaugurated. The hostages were held by the Iranians not by the US. The Iranians held the hostages until Carter was out of office to show their contmpt for the weak and stupid Carter. They let the hostage go because Reagan won the election and he said he was going to kick their butts if he became president and they release them. It's as simple as that. To say that Reagan had the hostages held shows an extreme ignorance on your part.

[feelfree1]

sandycat2,

Re: "nynative, I would be interested at how Reagan had the Iran hostages held until the moment he was inaugurated."

If we look back on the Regan-era Iran/contra criminal conspiracy, we will recall that the Regan ghouls secretly agreed to illegally sell arms to the Iranians on the cheap, as a component of their funding drive aimed at covertly overthrowing the democratically elected government of Nicaragua.

This was an enticing incentive for the Iranians to cooperate with the Regan regime.

[nynative1340]

sandycat: You should check out the FACTS instead of quoting myth and legend.

The hostages were held by Iranian students. They were NOT released because Reagan said he was going to kick their butts. In fact, the Reagan administration was negotiating with the Iranians (Algiers Accords) behind Carter's back after Carter's military operation to free the hostages failed. The Algieran Accords took place on Jan 19 and the hostages were released within 15 minutes after Reagan became president. He certainly DID NOT want them released while Carter was still president. Therefore the meeting was held one day before, and the hostages would be released the very day Reagan became president, and he got the credit.

In 1984 Reagan sold helicopters to Saddam, which he used to gas Kurds and Iranians. In 1986 he sold arms to Iran (Iran-Contra Affair), our avowed enemy, which the Iranians used to kill Iraqis.

You've simplified the situation in lieu of doing your homework. There is no evidence showing that the Iranians had contempt for Carter; they were our enemy and had contempt for all U.S. citizens. There is no evidence that Reagan was going to "kick their butts." There is plenty of evidence that Reagan used Carter's failed rescue to his own advantage.

Your logic doesn't make sense. Reagan was not going the kick the Iranians butts, and he DIDN'T kick the Hezbollah's butt in Lebanon after they killed over 250 U.S. Marines.

[realdemocrat]

The rtice states the following..
Carter tells the history of the Six-Day War in 1967 this way: "On June 5, Israel launched preemptive strikes, moving first against Egypt and Syria, then against Jordan." That's false.

It is not false...
General Yitzhak Rabin, Chief of Staff IDF
"I do not believe that Nasser wanted war. The two divisions which he sent into Sinai on May 14 would not have been enough to unleash an offensive against Israel. He knew it and we knew it." (Le Monde, February 28, 1968 )

Menachem Begin-Prime Minister
"In June l967, we again had a choice. The Egyptian Army concentrations in the Sinai approaches do not prove that Nasser was really about to attack us. We must be honest with ourselves. We decided to attack him." (New York Times, August 21, 1982)

Gen. Mattityahu Peled
"To pretend that the Egyptian forces massed on our frontiers were in a position to threaten the existence of Israel constitutes an insult not only to the intelligence of anyone capable of analyzing this sort of situation, but above all an insult to the Zahal(tne Israeli army)"

[marhabanajib]

Dear Mr. Carter,
Here in Iran we respect you very much. How much? As much as we respect Hitler, Ahmadinejad and Khomeini. We respect you much more than that. As much as dirty flies feed from dead and rotten bodies and sewage. Shame on you man who supported Khomeini and his followers, destroyed our country, caused imprisonment of the entire diplomatic mission of the US in Iran for 444 days after black revolution in Iran. Shame on you because your foolishness caused the most dangerous and dirty regime comes to power aiming at destroying the world with their atomic bomb, in the near future. Poor Americans who have your filthy name in their bright history.

[feelfree1]

It's always amusing when a pro-Israeli apologist tries to impersonate an Arab, on-line.

VV VV

[realdemocrat]

The Israel first crowd never likes fact based discussions on this matter. They prefer to trot out the tired charges of antisemitism and the worn out technique of changing the subject. But there is real change coming, this subject will no longer be taboo, even the MSM is timidly picking up on it. In the coming year the dual loyalists will have yet more reason to squirm and whine, with the upcoming trail of AIPAC members being charged with selling out America, the publication of John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt's book on the lobby next fall by publisher Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. In the meantime Oscar-winning director Johnathan Demme is filming a documentary on Carters new book, and when it come out it will once again drive Israel's miscreant apologists out of the woodwork.

[nynative1340]

Well, which is it? Do they have contempt (sandycat) for Carter or do they respect (Arab imposter) Carter? If they simply respect Carter, they must LOVE Reagan and all the arms he sold them. Reagan was even successful in getting the Israelis to approve the sale. Maybe they love the Israelis, too.

Ruhollah Khomeini was the result of Eisenhower's overthrow of the new Iranian democracy and installing the tyrant dictator 'U.S. friend' called the Shah. (A BIG reason for why they hate us.) Any good Arab knows that. Khomeini couldn't have been all that bad: He was after all, TIME's Man of the Year in 1979. Overthrowing the the tyrant Shah was a GOOD thing for Iran, (but not for the U.S.). Anytime we can't totally control a country is never good for us.

Point of fact: Any Arab knows more about our failed foreign policies and interventions in the governments of foreign nations than the average U.S. citizen, or even the above average citizen.

And the hostages: They could have been out in less time if not for Reagan's selfish political ambitions.

Carter is not responsible for present-day Iran; Eisenhower, Reagan, and Bush are.

[nynative1340]

Israel's continued antagonism will ultimately result in one of two conclusions: 1) The U.S. will wise up and not support them and they will be wiped from the earth, as Ahmadinejad says; or 2) They will start WWIII, a nuclear holocaust, and we all will be wiped from the earth.

And Einstein will be right: WWIV will be fought with sticks and stones.

[andy_f90]

Yeah believe the word of the right-wing, neocon Mona Charen words against President Carter regarding Israel.

It was warmongers like Ms. Charen whose love-affair with Israel that cheered the invasion of Iraq under outrageous lies of WMD to get the American people's support.

She is a attack-dog and her mud-slinging of one of the few noble former Presidents (Carter) is yet under vile proof of her sinister pro-Israeli, neocon aspiritations!

[nynative1340]

Search 'Mona Charen' on Wikipedia and you'll find that, as I suspected, she is Jewish, and she hates the two-party system. The first is stated and the latter can be deduced from the books she has written:

"Useful Idiots: How Liberals Got it Wrong in the Cold War and Still Blame America First," and

"Do-Gooders: How Liberals Harm Those They Claim to Help %u2014 and the Rest of Us"

...and I thought Jews were democrats. She's just another hate-spewing 'Ann Coulter.'

Funny...Reagan didn't exactly get it 'right' in the cold war; he had no clue the wall was coming down, which means he had no clue, period.

Charen also worked for Reagan and advocated his Central America policies, so, one could assume she also had a connection to the Iran-Contra affair.

[perception5]

Jimmy Carter.... by far the worse President in American history. Poor people suffered a lot under his failed econmic policies..... the worst through was his policy decisions that resulted in the Shah of Iran falling from power and the emergence of the radical govenment that exists today.............. thanks.....Jimmy...

[realdemocrat]

You will note the defenders of Israel only attack and denigrate, never inform. The author offers up Israeli propaganda as if it were fact time and time again. The lie about who started the attack in '67 was just one example, the one about Israel granting the Palestinians autonomy was a real howler. The problem is they live in their own Joan Peters like fantasy world and bring those of us who must live in the real world only war and enemies.

Their time will come, and they know it. The desperation is showing. The light of day is upon them and they don't like it one bit.

[hawk-handsaw]

Charen claims that it's "OK" to criticize Israel but her personal attacks on Carter, her silly nitpicking of syntax, her allegations of "errors" and her intimations of anti-semitism are typical of the kinds of personal attacks you can expect if you do dare to question Israel's policies.

All of these have one real aim: to avoid at all cost any real substantive discussion of the real issues. Notice that Charen carefully avoids all mention of the central issues Carter discusses: the settlements, the Occupation and the colonization of the West Bank.

Shocking that such an evasion and personal attack would be republished at CBSNews.com.

How about if CBS were to sponsor a real and in-depth discussion of what Israel has really done to the Palestinian people? Yeah, I know.... it will never happen.

[honestsam]

Let's put it this way, Jimmy Carter became the President under the pretext of being a conservative christian and his administration failed miserably. Regardless, I still respect of him for being a one time president of the United States. Personally, I find it hard to believe the way and manner he characterizes Israel as the main offender and perpetrator of crime against the Palestinians.Did he forget the peace that prevailed between the Israelis and the Palestinians after the signing of Oslo Acord? and how that atmosphere of tranqility was disrupted till today. I know that he is a strong proponent of the illusive 'New world order', and this book exposes his real motive against Israel. His book which is nothing short of anti-semitic will be more useful to the red skin heads, peolpe like Ahmadinajad of Iran.

[zykracosmos]

Carter is the man who has been more involved with the Israeli/Arab peace initiative than any other human being on earth. He brought peace to the region through tough negotiations and sound reason. Now you have CBS giving this right-wing airhead space to slander just about everything he stands for. Did Dan Rather's 60 Minutes goof up rattle CBS so badly that you have to provide space for pure propaganda from a writer and publication dedicated to push a radical one-sided agenda? Hey world... the baby has grown up. As Mona said herself, it's been 60 years. Time to wean Israel off the American teat. Israel was carved out of a populated territory at the end of World War II under the efforts of the 4 main victors as the first act of the new United Nations. The land grant was not from the people living in the region, but from those living outside. By what authority? Today Israel is not going away just because of the strange way it was made into a state, but Carter is absolutely spot on with his balanced perspective of how to address this complex issue. As long as Israel remains financially dependent on the US for its survival, they cannot assume complete independence to act in such a way that the US is held responsible for financing their reckless actions. As for me, I plan to attend a Carter function and get his latest book signed.

[Sternlight]

Pzrt I:

The mindless and crypto-anti-semitic responses of many here are appalling. Carter has been criticized on a factual basis. Instead of refuting the specific criticisms, name-calling, ad hominem attacks on the critic, and blatant anti-Israeli lies are posted.

The truth is that there never was a Palestinian people. For hundreds of years the Jews had a kingdom on that territory. later it was conquered by the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Turks and finally was run by the British under a League of Nations mandate. Until the creation of the State of israel, "Palestine" meant mostly the Jews living there, the "Palestine Post" was a newspaper of mainly Jewish affairs. In the nineteenth century the place was desert and swamps (read Mark Twain's visit notes). Then the Jews came, bought land fair and square, reclaimed the swamps, and created a modern country under British rule. Arabs from Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, attracted by the economic prosperity, emigrated there. Arafat himself was an Egyptian. Now these people call themselves "Palestinians".

[Sternlight]

Part II:
Even the fabled Al Aksa mosque is a fake. The Quran says that the Prophet's night ride was to "the furthest mosque". This had to be somewhere in the Mahgreb, not Jerusalem. Nowhere in the Quran is Jerusalem mentioned by name; in contrast it is named hundreds of times in the Hebrew Torah. During the middle period the Umayyid Caliphate fell out with Mecca; they then attempted to elevate an orginally humble wooden Mosque in Jerusalem to high status as competition. No sooner than they had settled their dispute with Mecca then they abandoned Al Aqsa, the roof was allowed to fall in, and it remained useless for many years. Some "Second holiest spot in Islam". It was only when increasing numbers of Jews joined their co-religionists living in Palestine that the Arabs started their land-grab on Judaism's holiest spot--the temple mount. For details of the history of Al Aqsa, check Al Aqsa's own web site.

[Sternlight]

Part III
After World War II, the British turned sovereighnity over to the UN, which created a Jewish State and and Arab State in the area. The name of the Jewish state was Israel.; the name of the Arab state was Jordan (created from "Trans-Jordan", another British Mandate). Not content with this the Arabs swore to drive the Israelis into the sea. They continued their policy of murdering Jews that dated back at least to the 1920's when there were many Arqb pogroms of Jewish civilians even before anyone thought of the idea of a Jewish state. They made, and lost 4 wars. Meanwhile they kept the local Arabs as hostages against peace by putting them in camps under filthy conditions (I've visited those sites many years ago), rather than resettling them.

[Sternlight]

Part IV
Arab countries seized Jewish property all over the Middle East, and did not pay compensation. They want compensation for some Arab land abandoned by Arabs fleeing Palestine at the instigation of their leaders; very well then, let them pay compensation for Jewish property stolen by them. A (late) friend of mine owned the largest and most luxurous hotel in Cairo, the Mina Hotel. She was kicked out by Nasser because she was Jewish, and died in France. That story was repeated many thousands of times.

By the way, apologists trying to tar Israel for defending herself pre-emptively in one of these wars, claim the movement of masses of troops from Egypt to the border could not have defeated Israel. I suppose they were moved there for tourism of thn beautiful desert on the Egyptian side of Gaza, eh?

[Sternlight]

Part V
The Arabs have repeatedly sworn to destroy the Jews, and have murdered hundreds of Israeli women and children as part of a deliberate policy of terror. Arab governments and heads of state, most notably the Palestinians, Syrians, and Saddam Era Iraqis have supported, encouraged and funded this gross violation of all that is decent, including international law. In contrast, the Israelis have not targeted non-combatant Arabs, and the occasional collateral damage is minor. What is more, it has been proven that most clains of Israeli atrocities have actually been staged by Palestinian propagandists, such proof to the satisfaction even of Reuters, no friend of israel.

[Sternlight]

Part VII

There are many good examples of how "civilized" countries wage war, including the US use of nuclear weapons, the fire-bombing of Dresden, and the actions of the British, French, Germans, and italisns during World War II. Time for the Israelis to take off the gloves; who cares what anti-semites think--they'll never be "friends" of the israelis anyway.

When it comes to simple humanity, it is true that the present reality is that there are many impoverished Arabs (and lots of rich ones who have stolen foreign aid money), living in the "occupied territories" and in Gaza. Fine; the israelis, the most powerful economic engine in the region, have repeatedly tried to help them. In return they receive terror and murder of the women and children. The way to the "Palestinian" future is to abandon terrorism, start behaving like a civilized nation, and emulate the many Israeli Arabs who are prospering by becoming civil with their neighbors. Nobody expects a love-feast, but decent civil behavior (much of which is taught in the good parts of the Quran, although often for "believers only", will solve the Palestinians problems and raise a largely impoverished and ignorant people to a level comparable with that of israel, which has the highest standard of living for its Arab citizens as well as its Jewish citizens, in the region.

[styker1224]

As usual the pro-Israeli PROPAGANDISTS mainly US-born Jews brainwashed into their victimhood mentality and urged to support their state-terrorist state of Israel, are up in arms over this message board attacking not only American President Carter (one of the few brave politicians willing to speak out against Israeli brutality).

One poster actually posted verbatim a 7 part "cut and paste" talking points from powerful US-Jewish and right-wing evangelical Armaggedon-crazed websites like American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Zionist Organisation of America (ZOA) websites the talking points. How amusing and original...

The fact of the matter remains American foreign policy is so twisted, skewed, and influenced by those with emotional attachments to Israel over America interests that, that is why US was misled into a war with Iraq and now being brainwashed into conflict with Iran.

Just read Yehud Olmert's interview in TIME magazine saying after Iraq, Iran is a major threat to Israeli interests, not US... and now he's caught coaching Italian PM on what talking points he needs to say to the press.

Candid footage Shows Olmert Coaching Prodi:
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=204277570&p=zx4z78z76

[styker1224]

As usual the pro-Israeli PROPAGANDISTS mainly US-born Jews brainwashed into their victimhood mentality and urged to support their state-terrorist state of Israel, are up in arms over this message board attacking not only American President Carter (one of the few brave politicians willing to speak out against Israeli brutality).

One poster actually posted verbatim a 7 part "cut and paste" talking points from powerful US-Jewish and right-wing evangelical Armaggedon-crazed websites like American Jewish Committee (AJC) and Zionist Organisation of America (ZOA) websites the talking points. How amusing and original...

The fact of the matter remains American foreign policy is so twisted, skewed, and influenced by those with emotional attachments to Israel over America interests that, that is why US was misled into a war with Iraq and now being brainwashed into conflict with Iran.

Just read Yehud Olmert's interview in TIME magazine saying after Iraq, Iran is a major threat to Israeli interests, not US... and now he's caught coaching Italian PM on what talking points he needs to say to the press.

Candid footage Shows Olmert Coaching Prodi:
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=204277570&p=zx4z78z76

[tamroi]

Please notice that Mona Charen%u2019s column titled %u2018Jimmy Carter%u2019s Foolishness About Israel%u2019, which we are invited here to comment on, contains nothing more than ad homonym attacks, that is, empty personal insults. In her only serious criticism of the book %u2018Palestine: Peace or Apartheid%u2019, she says %u201Cyou can pretty much close your eyes and point to any page to find something simplistic, naove, or tendentious.%u201D This may or may not be true but the message of the book, by a uniquely brave and humane American patriot, is tragically true.


I beg you to read the books and web articles by the Israeli scholar, Tanya Reinhart, in particular the book %u2018The Road Map to Nowhere%u2019 (2006). The facts which she presents, mostly taken from recent Israeli newspapers, should convince you that Americans are now fallen into a collective evil as deep as any that educated mankind has known.

[tamroi]

Please notice that Mona Charen's column contains nothing more than empty personal insults. In her only serious criticism of Carter's book, she says: you can pretty much close your eyes and point to any page to find something simplistic, naive, or tenditious. This may or may not be true but the message of the book, by a uniquely brave and humane patriot, is tragically true.

I beg you to read the books and web articles by the Israeli scholar, Tanya Reinhart - in particular the book: The Road Map to Nowhere (2006). The facts which she presents, mostly taken from recent Israeli newspapers, should convince you that Americans are now fallen into a collective evil as deep as any that educated mankind has known.

[daligiraffe]

Israel is not a terrorist state. Mona Charen%u2019s mention of "sixty years of withheld recognition by its neighbors" and "ceaseless terror against Israeli civilians" is absolutely correct. Israel is surrounded by vicious and well-armed Muslim extremist groups whose main goal is to wipe it off the map. In that situation, military might is an absolute necessity, and since the terrorists have made human shields a vital tool in their war, innocent people get hurt.

People seem to think that if Israel will simply hand over its occupied territories the terrorists will stop attacking, but that is not the case. It is the fact that Israel is Jewish, not occupiers, that drives the terrorists. Israel can never pull out until the Palestinian and other Middle Eastern governments recognize Israel and make a genuine attempt to disarm the terrorist groups. That does not look like it will happen any time soon.

Furthermore, although Charen writes with a bit of journalistic flair that may appear to some readers as condescending, her criticism of Mr. Carter%u2019s book is perfectly valid. She simply picks out a few passages and accurately refutes them.

[tamroi]

Israel is a terrorist state, now, as well as founded in terrorism. It is also a blatently racist state.

As Charen points out: the world is teeming with Israel haters and not just among the rabble. As the last commentor noted, international jihad, as well as Charen's intellectuals at embassy soirees, will never stop attacking the Jewish state. Like South Africa, sooner or later it will cease to exist as an apartheid state, as its defender continues losing its hegemony through evangelical stupidity.

Ultimately the only hope for Israel is for enough of its brilliant young people to emigrate, until the two wicked stupid governments face the fact that Israel must treat all its semitic brothers with fraternity, liberty, and equality. Canada alone would be enhanced immeasurably by welcoming all five million of Israel's Jews.

[drinuk]

Israel took the land in 1948, spurred on by their terrorist leaders Mayer and Begin they slaughtered British peace keepers. who else but those wishing to rule by the bullet carries out such acts, well! we all know what Bush and Blair calls them.....Terrorists. The Chosen Race, My ***.

[grumpas]

All I can say on the subject! What did Israel expect when they took someone else's country from them in 1948! But, years upon years of war being waged against them! They have exactly what they asked for as far as I am concerned! I don't feel remotely sorry for them! You need to start reading something other than the Israeli propaganda you have been reading STERNLIGHT! The Israeli's are just as guilty of war crimes as the Palestinian's are! Between demolishing homes of suspected PLO people, kidnapping them and other atrosities!

[mmm0325]

If anything, Jimmy Carter gives too much credit to Israel for treating Palestinians who live within the Israeli State as being treated equally. Read Susan Nathan's book, an Israeli Jew, about the systematic discrimination within Israel agains their Arab population. All one need do if they doubt the hideous treatment of Arabs, is cross the border from Jordan into Israel....

[realdemocrat]

The fantasies as facts...

"sixty years of withheld recognition by its neighbors"

How about sixty years of occupation without the recognition of the indigenous population? The earliest Zionist settlers documented how they were surrounded by their Arab neighbors in the written diaries many of them kept. A "land without people for a people without land", more like a land of displaced people displacing other people.

And what borders is a neighbor to recognize? The one that the rest of world does or the ever expanding elastic one Israel would have us all risk our lives for?

Was it not enough that the people who owned 6% of the original '49 partition were given control of most of it? Of course not, Israel deserves all of other people's land they want. And we should be happy to arm them to the teeth for the task, and adopt every enemy she has.

"As Charen points out: the world is teeming with Israel haters and not just among the rabble."

Perhaps the world is not "teeming with Israel haters", but that the vast majority of the inhabitants of this planet who disagree might have a point. Either that or planet earth is wrong and Israel is right.