Atlanta, GA – Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday he supports the Palestinians’ effort to secure statehood recognition at the United Nations this month, despite White House concerns for the region.
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The Georgia Democrat said he wouldn’t be in favor of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ bid to win U.N. recognition if President Barack Obama’s administration had “put forward any sort of comprehensive peace proposal.” But he told said Palestinians have few other options but to seek statehood since no deal is in the works.
“As an alternative to a deadlock and a stalemate now, we reluctantly support the Palestinian move for recognition,” he told a town hall event at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
In Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday she was sending top aides to Israel and the Palestinian territories to try to sway the Palestinians to drop their U.N. effort and bring the parties back to long-stalled talks.
Although the path to full membership seems blocked because the U.S. promises to veto the bid in the Security Council, Palestinians hope for benefits that have eluded them for decades.
Carter said Tuesday it would be a “real step forward” even if a nonmember Palestinian state were recognized.
The Palestinian bid for recognition comes at a sensitive time. Once-strong ties between Israel and Turkey have frayed over Israel’s refusal to apologize for its deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year that killed nine Turks. And, the Jewish state’s ties with Egypt have been tested by the weekend attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.
The U.S., which regards all three as crucial allies, has moved to try to ease tensions but both Turkey and Egypt are expected to support Palestinian moves at the U.N.
Carter said he doesn’t believe the peace accord between Israel and Egypt is in any danger, voicing optimism for the future.
“The Arab spring has brought hope for democracy and freedom to many of the people in the region … and I hope that eventually it will potentially bring about a change in the prospects of a peace agreement to be negotiated between Israel and its neighbors,” he said. “But it would require Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories and that’s something that so far the Israeli government has been unable to do.
Big surprise.
The man never met a peace loving muslim terrorist he didn’t love.
What took this lowlife so long?? He’s usually the first on line to spew his venomous anti-Semitism.
He’s quoted as saying “…we reluctantly support…”–who’s “we”? Is he speaking as the representative of some organization, or just one guy being pompous?
What else does this Pee-nut butter farmer support?
His Egypt peace plan is about to go up in flames. Unfortunately the Rebbe was right. The Egypt peace plan was the basis for the rest and in the end 30 yrs later we have no peace with any of our Neighbors and returned large portions of land.
Nothing we couldn’t expect, though with comments like:
“…he doesn’t believe the peace accord between Israel and Egypt is in any danger…”
“The Arab spring has brought hope for democracy and freedom to many of the people in the region…”
he seems to be intent on publicizing his lack of intelligence.
Of course! He would have done this 40 years ago had he have the chance.
Great! Let him plant some peanuts there for yishuv medinas palestina! Since he will relocate there for the peanuts he may launch the Peanut Palestine Peace award internationally known as the PPP by the Carter Center!
So do all anti-semites, what new?
Anyone supprised?!?! Anyone cares?! Hmm democracy in the MidEast? and Egypt? I wonder who was the last one claiming so when the Mullah’s took over in Iran?!
Dear Jimmy,
Your Pals had a second opportunity to found a state in the wake of the 1947 affirmative UN vote for a two-state solution. Their first state was Jordan, established on 78% of the land of the British Mandate for Palestine. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence and on May 15, 1948, the Palestinian state called Jordan gobbled up the land assigned to the new Arab state and joined with five other Arab countries to “murder” the new Jewish state, Israel. That wasn’t very nice.
I believe that “ROCKETS ARE RACISM.” The Pals only fire their rockets at Jews. Why would the bloodthirsty savages now living in Gaza, stop firing their racist rockets at Israeli civilians once they are admitted to the United Nations? Why do you think that the world will be a better place if your Pals establish another “Thugistan?” Certainly this will be another failed state. The primary foreign policy objective of this Thugistan will be the murder of their neighboring state, Israel. Bottom line, your Pals have not shown the world that they can shoulder the responsibility of having their own state.
Why don’t you understand this? Why do you refuse to understand this?
This no good mamzer yemach sh’mo will drop dead on a Jewish Holiday!
Does anything reported by this story suprise anyone. Carter is an old fool who is also a rabid anti-semite.
I don’t know why this is even news! If he would’ve said anything pro israel, pro yiddin, I’d be shocked. This is totally expected from this filthy piece of rag. his venom on every opportunity is his signature anti semitism at its best! let him go to palestine, live there for a month. He won’t be coming back from there, he thinks the Palestinians are soooooo thankful to him, just wait till they give you the ultimate gift. a bullet! Not that I’m in any way recommending this happen, just pointing out how bad the palis are.
Carter has already been reckognized as possibly the worst US President Ever.
Now he will certainly be reckognized as one of the most Antisemitic public figures in America as well.
Nice going – peanut farmer
carter may you rot in hell and soon. You are the cause of Iran in becoming what it is today a threat to the entire world. Shut you mouth for once
whatever day he drops dead will be a Jewish holiday.
Dear Prez. Carter: Why don’t you feed the PA? You gave enough peanuts!! It will be cheaper for everybody and you love them!! Maybe you can take it as a contribution?? Ask your accountant!! Or the IRS!! There may be a limit!! You really should make a donation!!
JUST TOO BAD HE CAN’T SEE ALL THESE COMMENTS
I wish Carter could be president of ‘palestine’!!!
He could do the same ‘great’ job for them as he did for the U.S.!!!
I heard Carter is going to Daven Rosh Hashona at Moishe Ber Beck in Monsey! (Or is it Teheran?)