Carter Says U.S. Politicians Can Show No Sympathy For Palestinians
Former President Jimmy Carter said in a published interview it is “almost inconceivable” for an American presidential
candidate “to make the statements that I’ve made concerning the plight of the Palestinians or Israel withdrawing to its
1967 borders with modifications, or things of that kind.”
Carter said his 2006 book “Palestine Peace Not Apartheid” presented “a point of view that the American media rarely have
a chance to cover” as no politician will discuss it. “It would be amazing for me to hear any candidate for President
even mention it---even begin to address these issues in a serious way.”
Carter made his remarks in an interview published in the December 3rd issue of The Nation, a weekly magazine reflecting
liberal opinion.
The former president, credited with arranging the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, said he sees “a complete
dearth of any sort of substantive debate” in the U.S. about resolution of the troubles involving Israel and its
neighbors. Carter added, “For six years, now seven years, there hasn’t been a single day of substantive negotiations
between Israel and either Syria or the Palestinians.”
“I wanted to precipitate some movement on the peace process and also bring the issue to the forefront. In other
countries, by the way---I’ve been to Ireland and England and other countries in Europe lately---there is a pretty
intense debate. But over here, zero.”
Asked by interviewer John Nichols if there is any way the issue can become part of the 2008 election year debate, Carter
replied: “I don’t think it’s possible for candidates to talk about it. But it may be that some of the facts and some of
the issues will sink into the consciousness of whoever is going to be in the White House beginning in 2009, and that
they will see some responsibility and some way, some path toward a peace process.”
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(Sherwood Ross is an American reporter. Contact: sherwoodr1@yahoo.com)