Can Jimmy Carter Do For Palestine What Jack Murtha Did For Iraq?

By Linda Milazzo
Created Dec 2 2006 - 8:14am

Other than 2002 Nobel Prize Laureate, Jimmy Carter, no American politician
has spoken honestly about Israel's occupation of Palestine. No American
politician has addressed Israel's mistreatment of the Palestinians. Not
because the mistreatment doesn't exist. But because acknowledging it brings
accusations of anti-semitism and the potential to lose an election.

To date, Jimmy Carter is the most high-profile American to publicly denounce
the horrors of the Israeli occupation. Not in a sound byte or a simple
aside. But in a full length book, provocatively titled, "Palestine: Peace
Not Apartheid."

In his book, President Carter provides a detailed analysis of Israel's
confiscation of Palestinian land and ongoing demoralization of the
Palestinian people within their own homeland. President Carter bravely
defies the American taboo of never criticizing Israel, recognizing that
humanitarianism dwarfs political correctness.

The intentions of the book are as honorable as the man who wrote it. To
provide a clear understanding that there are two sides to the
Israeli/Palestinian story. To show how Palestinians are suffering under the
Israeli occupation. And to prove that there is a legitimate, humane two
state solution.

For America's elected officials, denouncing Israel is unthinkable, although
denouncing her detractors is common. As one would expect, members of
Congress attacked the book immediately, prior to ever reading it. According
to incoming Democratic Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, "It is wrong to suggest that
the Jewish people would support a government in Israel or anywhere else that
institutionalizes ethnically based oppression, and Democrats reject that
allegation vigorously."

Speaker Pelosi's statement is indicative of the dismissive sentiments of
most members of Congress. Unlike Israelis themselves, who acknowledge that
Palestinian mistreatment is real, America's elected officials deny it's very
existence.

A question for Speaker Pelosi: if these atrocities aren't happening, why do
Israelis protest them so much? Why do Israeli soldier "refuseniks" decline
actions against Palestinians and opt to spend time in jail?

It took Pennsylvania Representative Jack Murtha to speak out against
America's occupation of Iraq before others had the courage to oppose it.
Perhaps Jimmy Carter can have a similar effect on the Israeli occupation of
Palestine. Maybe after acknowledgment by a man of President Carter's
stature, America's leaders will adopt a humanitarian approach toward the
Israeli occupation of Palestine, and develop the courage to oppose it.

Unfortunately, this is more of an optimist's dream than a scenario about to
happen. Even President Carter doubts the new Democratic-lead Congress will
change its purely pro-Israel tone. In a November 27th interview with CNN's
Larry King, President Carter admitted, "It's almost inconceivable for any
members of the House and Senate to take any position that would be critical
of Israel. That's one reason I wrote my book. It's just to precipitate some
controversy, to use your word, provocation, that is to provoke debate on the
issue and to let the people of America know that there are two sides to many
issues in the Middle East, and that in order to have peace for Israel,
Israel will have to comply with international law. But I don't think it's
likely at all that Democrats will be any more critical of the policies of
Israel than were the Republicans."

Nor will Carter's fellow ex-Presidents, George H.W. Bush and William
Jefferson Clinton be critical of Israel's actions, although they know that
these horrors occur. They lack Carter's moral fiber. They're politicians
acting as statesmen. Carter is a statesman with a political past.

The differences are clear. Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush are political
emissaries of the current President Bush. A tour de force fundraising duo,
deployed to disasters with a political purse.

Carter, on the other hand, is a respected humanitarian. He's a welcome
ambassador for America's humanity. In a world where America is increasingly
hated, Jimmy Carter does America proud. Particularly when compared to George
Bush, Sr., who isn't a statesman at all. Or a patriot either, if one accepts
his claim that he never assisted his son. If this is true. If he never tried
to reverse the dereliction of George W. Bush, then George Bush Sr. is guilty
of irreparable harm.

Americans sacrificed their sons for this nation. He sacrificed this nation
for his son. A shameful indictment at best.

The fact is, there is no possibility of Middle East peace without resolving
the Palestinian conflict. America's bias toward Israel must be replaced with
equality and balance. Carter summarized it this way in his appearance on
Larry King:

"You never hear anything about what is happening to the Palestinians by the
Israelis. As a matter of fact, it's one of the worst cases of oppression
that I know of now in the world. The Palestinians' land has been taken away
from them. They now have an encapsulating or an imprisonment wall being
built around what's left of the little tiny part of the holy land that is in
the West Bank.

In the Gaza, from which Israel is not withdrawing, Gaza is surrounded by a
high wall. There's only two openings in it. One into Israel which is mostly
closed, the other one into Egypt. The people there are encapsulated. And the
deprivation of basic human rights among the Palestinians is really
horrendous and this is a fact that's known throughout the world. It's
debated heavily and constantly in Israel. Every time I'm there the debate is
going on. It is not debated at all in this country. And I believe that the
purpose of this book, as I know, is to bring permanent peace to Israel
living within its recognized borders, modified with good faith negotiations
between the Palestinians for land swaps. That's the only avenue that will
bring Israel peace."

America needs to adopt an honest policy toward Palestine. Jimmy Carter
shouldn't be criticized for taking so courageous a stand. He should be
applauded. America can't help Israel, or itself, by supporting actions that
inflame hatred and provoke harm.

Why not listen to President Carter. His Middle East experience is
unparalleled. He is still the only President to have negotiated a successful
Middle East Treaty. Thanks to his 1978 Camp David Accords, Israel has had
peace with Egypt for nearly thirty years!
_______

--
NOTICE: This post contains copyrighted material the use of which has not
always been authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material
available to advance understanding of
political, human rights, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. I
believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107

"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an opportunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson