Terrorists Agree!!
Posted on 12/09/2006 12:25:44 AM PST by West Coast Conservative
Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter says the decision by Canada and other nations to withhold money from the Hamas-led Palestinian government is "a crime."
Israel and western donors such as Canada have demanded Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept past peace agreements. Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction despite its stated offer of a long-term truce, rejects the conditions.
"It's a crime against the people of Palestine," Carter told CBC News in an exclusive interview from New York.
"For Canada and others to punish the Palestinian people because they voted for their candidates of choice, I think is literally a crime."
The statesman and prolific author defended his harsh criticism of Israeli policy in his latest book, saying he hopes to erode the "impenetrable wall" that blocks the U.S. public from seeing the plight of Palestinians. 'Apartheid' questioned
Jewish groups have launched petitions criticizing Carter's use of the word "apartheid" — the system of legal racial separation once used in South Africa — to describe Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
"There is in many ways a much more serious deprivation of human rights among the Palestinians because of this ill-advised policy than even there was in South Africa," he told CBC News.
"I deplore the Palestinian suicide bombings as much or more than anything than I do what Israel has done against the Palestinian people. It's horrible on both sides and should be eliminated. But you have to look at the facts."
He said that by the time Hamas was elected in January, the Palestinian authority had already been brought to bankruptcy and couldn't pay police officers, firefighters and government employees.
"They can't a cheque from their own government, so they're in effect performing their own duties without pay and Canada is in collusion with this ill-advised policy."
Carter also said the Israeli response to the capturing of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah last summer was "excessive beyond what was needed."
Carter, who has led efforts to monitor several elections in the Palestinian Authority since leaving office, said bringing peace to the Middle East is the most important commitment in his public life.
His top-selling book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, has been criticized by pro-Israel groups and led to the resignation, announced this week, of Kenneth Stein, a Carter Center fellow and a longtime Carter adviser.
Carter's latest book has drawn stern rebukes from current Democratic leaders such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean.
"With all due respect to former president Carter, he does not speak for the Democratic party on Israel," Pelosi said in a statement.
Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, said he intended the book to provoke debate on Israeli policy that has been stifled by the news media and others, who have been "almost unanimously silent," and lamented the lack of debate over Israeli policy in the U.S.
"It's almost a universal silence concerning anything that might be critical of current policies of the Israeli government," he said.
The book follows the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, starting with Carter's 1977-1980 presidency and the Camp David peace accord he negotiated between Israel and Egypt.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Worst
President
Ever.
L
What is this guy smoking?
Palestinians can say what they want but no one is required to agree with it or support it.
Get a grip Mr. C
Terrorists Agree!!
Carter is beginning to make Buchanan look like Prime Minster of Israel material. He's been over the edge for a long time, but now he just seems desparate for attention or a serious slap-down.
Has any former US president become as disreputable as Jimmy Carter? The man seems to be devoid of either common sense or common decency.
What was really needed, according to Carter, was for Israel to Immediately have a few divisions of Israeli Soldiers put their weapons down, put their hands in the air, and then walk (crawling would be preferable) into the Terrorists camps. If each soldier could carry a small white flag in one hand, that would be great too!
Well, then paint me a criminal: i never give to beggars. As if the PA somehow has a "right" to help.
Sure he does. He's only saying out loud what you clearly convey through policy and actions.
This question alone should have it's own thread. The historians on FR can enlighten us all between the posts recollecting of Carter's voluminous failures.
If anyone wanted to give the United States an enema, Jimmy would be the leading candidate to be the recipient of the probe!
Sir! How 'dast' you insult shit in such a manner(slap to the face).
"Nobody minds Ben Gunn; why dead or alive, nobody minds Ben Gunn."
That Jimmy Carter is not in a nursing home is literally a crime. Where is social services when we need them?
Everything the libs don't like is a crime. The Prime Minister should be arrested.
Sure he does. He's only saying out loud what you clearly convey through policy and actions.
Absolutely. Nazi Pelosi is just trying to hide how the Dems really think.
Jimmy Carter has no filter at all. He just never knows when to SFTU. Proving over and over the wisdom of the voters in 1980.
Because he says what they think. They can quote him, and be immunized, point and say, "HE said it, not us!".
They give anyone publicity if they spout their fantasies. Consider that sow Sheehan, who would never have been noticed otherwise, a complete Media synthesis.
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