Arab-American Affairs magazine, VOL 35 Issue No 219 April-May 2007

President Carter’s Book Focuses on Peaceful Solutions Between Palestinians and Israelis While Confirming Zionist Apartheid Failed Plans

 The content of President Jimmy Carter’s book: Palestine Peace not Apartheid, offers nothing new to those who know the 60-year-history of the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The outcry of Zionists in America against this book is because it provides a full picture written in simple approach to inform the uninformed about the reality of Zionist apartheid methods practiced in the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories.

During an interview about the book President Carter said: "There is a horrible apartheid in Palestine. And apartheid by definition is a forced separation of two peoples living in the same land with subjugation of one people by the other. And that is exactly what is happening to the Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli occupiers inside Palestine." And in another interview he said: “There is no discussion or debate in this country about very sensitive issues in the Middle East if that discussion implies a criticism of Israel."

It seems those who are still criticizing the book in major newspapers, media and forums, and urging severing relations with distributors who dare handling this book, are missing the real message which is paving the way for a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Palestinians, as well the Israeli people, deserve a regular peaceful life with dignity and respect. The book tells us that the continuation in expansion of building illegal Israeli settlements in the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories, over 200 so far, and erecting over 400 Israeli military check points in these territories, hampering the Palestinian travel, trade, education and health needs, will not help the peace, but will continue to breed hatred and violence. To add insult to injury Israel has built the apartheid wall. The timing of President Carter's book implies the conflict situation in the Middle East has reached a critical juncture. If Israel is seeking a peaceful co-existence with the Palestinians and Arabs in that part of the world, Israel must end its occupation of the Palestinian territories, stop its aggressions on Arab neighbors as it did in its latest destruction of Lebanon, and to comply with international law. This is what President Carter’s book is all about.

Book comment  by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC): Jimmy Carter, the USA's 39th President and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, recently published his 23rd book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." The contents of the book and the title have been met with much controversy. In the book, Carter discusses topics which are widely debated around the world but rarely receive much notice or widespread analytical attention within the US. This is particularly relevant as many seek to foreclose the debate on the Middle East by promoting the idea that criticism of Israel's policies is indistinguishable from hatred of Jewish people and a person raising these issues is Anti-Semitic. President Carter has already been maligned as an Anti-Semite and some allege his work diminishes public debate, as opposed to opening dialogue.

The book is Carter's interpretations of events, he offers invaluable insight into personal relationships and includes discussions with some of the most pivotal figures throughout the years of ongoing conflict. From Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who he identified as a very close personal friend, to current Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, he has known and interacted with these figures and this has lead him to write this book. Carter identifies two possible options as way of resolving this conflict. He suggests that a comprehensive peace agreement must be reached between all the actors involved (including Lebanon, Syria, as well as the Palestinians and Israelis) or the Palestinians will continue to suffer and be subjugated to the continued oppression of the ongoing Israeli occupation. Carter also offers strong words about US administrations for not being an even-handed broker. He notes that the failure of US administrations in stopping illegal Israeli settlement building and expansion is a fundamental failure and key impediment to resuming peace negotiations.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) reiterates the fact that Israel still has control over Gaza's land, sea, and air borders; utilities; tax revenue; and internal economy, continuing its occupation, despite its unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. In Gaza, approximately 40 percent of its residents live in poverty and unemployment is 55 percent. The West Bank remains under military occupation and illegal settlement activity continues. ADC also notes that Israel continues to violate the 1976 US Arms Export Control Act by using US supplied weapons to carry out its military actions and targeted assassinations against the Palestinian people over the years. ADC opposes violence against civilians, regardless of the identity of the perpetrators or victims, and reiterates its call for direct, open negotiations in order to reach a just and lasting peace to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Carter stresses, in the book, the necessity of defining Palestine's and Israel's national boundaries openly and honestly. He also notes peace will come to the region only when the "Israeli Government is willing to comply with International law, with the Roadmap for Peace, with official US policy, with the wishes of the majority of its own citizens - and honor its own previous commitments - by accepting its legal borders." ADC President Hon. Mary Rose Oakar said, "For 39-years Israel has occupied Palestinian lands, encouraged settlers from around the world to set up more than 205 illegal settlements on Palestinian lands in violation of international law. Israel has also built roads and highways that dissect Palestinian territories that are open only to Jews and from which Palestinians are prohibited. Palestinians are forced from checkpoint to checkpoint, many times unable to travel from Gaza to the West Bank. With greater frequency, US citizens of Palestinian origin are being prevented from traveling to the Palestinian territories." Oakar added, "President Carter's book carries an important message of peace, upon which most Israelis and Palestinians agree. We hope this message of peace will reach the American public and US policymakers who have the power to put Israel and Palestine on the path to peace and away from apartheid."

 Palestine: Peace not Apartheid, by President Jimmy Carter, Published by Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Price: $27.00, Hard cover, 265 pages