Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
by Jimmy Carter
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.01 You Save: $26.99 (100%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
Book Review: Carter unleashed a storm
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is worth reading. It's important to know what Carter really thinks--as opposed to what some people say he thinks. The thoughts of a former United States president should not be taken lightly: Because he is respected around the world, we in the United States must read his words carefully. That's why I gave his book 3 stars--the highest rating I could, in good conscience, give it.
Where to begin? I am pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian. Like Carter, I believe that a two-state solution is the only viable solution. And like Carter, I believe that Israel's domination of 1.8 million Palestinians is, and has been, immoral.
But Carter fails to mention (or downplays) the following crucial points:
1) Nothing justifies terrorist acts. Nothing.
2) Palestinian terrorism in that region will--tragically--continue even after the Israelis give up control of the West Bank. (The PLO, whose stated mission was to destroy Israel, was formed three years before the 1967 war, and terrorists have continued to launch rockets into Israel from Gaza after the Israelis have left Gaza.)
3) If Arafat had accepted Ehud Barak's offer of 97% of the West Bank and half of Jerusalem in 2000, the Palestinians would have a state today.
4) If the Palestinians had accepted the UN partition plan, adopted on November 29th, 1947, as the Israelis had done, they would be celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.
5) If the Palestinian people and their leaders had adopted an approach of non-violent protest (ala Martin Luther King Jr.) they would have had their state decades ago, and would have earned the respect of nations around the world, including the democratic State of Israel.
Now then. I do not want to see Israel separated from its neighbors by a wall (or more accurately a fence). But I understand (and Carter does not) that it is not a "land grab" but a necessary barrier to deter terrorism, which it has done.
I am critical of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, but even more angered by the fact that no country called the territories "occupied" when Jordan occupied that region for 19 years and refused to permit Jews to pray at the Western Wall. I am also angered by how quickly people forget (or maybe they never knew) that Israel conquered that territory from Jordan (not from the Palestinians) in a defensive war, only after the Israelis begged Jordan to stay out of the conflict. Carter never mentions these facts in his book.
Many words could be used to describe this book, but "courageous" is not one of them. I am sickened at heart by the nonsense that Carter is "brave" for criticizing Israel (thus feeding the anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews in the United States have disproportionate power and control). I find it inexplicable that Carter gives the Palestinian Arabs a virtual free pass for their horrific crimes--crimes such as putting blood thinner in a suicide bomb, with the calculated hope that if the metal fragments don't kill their Jewish victims right away, those injured will bleed to death.
A book such as this one that emboldens terrorists, and thus sets back the peace process, is not courageous but dangerous. And ultimately, that is why readers must take this book seriously, and not dismiss it with either one-star attacks against Carter himself, or with five-star Israel-bashing disguised as pro-Palestinian sentiments. I say again that to be truly pro-Palestinian, one must also be pro-Israeli. The fates of the peoples in that region are inseparable.
I am deeply saddened that most of the reviews of this book (5 star AND 1 star) have been counter-productive. I am grateful for the few comments that are insightful and calmly presented. (For the record, there are NO thoughtful, well-informed five-star reviews; there are but a handful of intelligent one-star reviews.)
I'll conclude by reminding readers that Carter's stated purpose in writing this book was to stimulate debate in the United States about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (even though he himself has tellingly avoided public debate). His book has not done that. It has just brought a lot of hate-filled, angry people out of the woodwork. And Carter has, with this incendiary book, hurt countless numbers of reasonable, peace-seeking people around the world.
Mr. President, I hope you're proud of yourself.
Book Review: Call to Israel and US: Peace Not War
Summary: 4 Stars
Book review of Jimmy Carter's "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid":
Jimmy Carter newest book is entitled, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." I was sold on this book the moment I saw him interviewed on the Tavis Smiley show in LA on or about December 14, 2006 on local public television. I was compelled to purchase it and eagerly read through it all, to explore the issues that Jimmy Carter has been thoroughly documenting ever since the beginning of his Presidency in 1977. His non-profit organization "The Carter Center" at Emory University, has been keeping accurate records of the Peace Negotiations in the Middle East since President Carter and his wife Rosalynn began it in 1982. I lived through most of this generation of inhospitable anguish concerning the Middle East "Apartheid," but could never put it so eloquently into words as Jimmy Carter does in this book. I commend President Carter on his enormous contributions to the push for peace in the Middle East, but I could not help but notice the findings contrary to his entire efforts on page 206, whereby he stated "The only rational response to this continuing tragedy is to revitalize the peace process through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, but the United States has, in effect, abandoned this effort." I wonder if they (the U.S.) largely "abandoned this effort" because of the exponential increase in violence due to the increase in publicity its been given over the years? Perhaps a continuous search for a resolution to the problem is precisely what is exacerbating further violence in the region.
Human beings are social animals, regardless of what culture we are ascribed to: "What Saussure termed langue - discourse speaks the world as the desire to speak and the desire to be spoken to" (Gillan 1982: 72). As expressed in Carter's new book, such is the case for the Palestinians - voiceless held contemptible through their own habitual plight. This has been the Palestinians mode of reasoning all along, that Western Media coverage seems to be biased in the direction of continuous support of the Israeli point of view. As Carter's book shows, this western bias is now widely distributed and open to millions of people with voices, and I am one of them. In order to stop further chaos in the Middle East, we (the U.S.) must discontinue supporting Israel's occupation and unlawful habitation of Palestinian land. This is not and should NOT be misconstrued as a sign of weakness, rather a sign of the movement toward peace that Carter had envisioned many years ago. If this is the key to resoling an ancient crisis that would propel us as humans into the next millennium to witness potential halcyon days, then I see no harm in trying it.
I wish Jimmy Carter went deeper into detail about the Roman Diaspora of the Jews, which was largely the blame for the displacement of the Jews from the Holy Land to begin with. The Arab Philistines that subsequently became displaced (stateless in western ideology) as a result of the 1948 Israeli Independence is only partially to blame for the problems we still see today. This is not a clash of civilizations, but a clash of ideologies. Why should the Palestinian people become a State, when they were completely fine with their own ideological networks and social coexistence devoid of western idealism prior to 1948? The idea of them becoming a State has been forced upon them too often and should not be the way to force a democracy on yet another culture! I am not sympathetic to the Pal's resistance methods at all, but I am a freethinking individual who can see through the core problem, which is that of repression of a trigger-happy nation state over a rock-throwing non-nation state, and quite frankly - we need to move on with our lives, and focus less attention on this archaic matter. You'd think that we'd be able to get past this type of behavior nowadays, and in many ways, I think we could have already, but as new people come into power, and as those who get assassinated are soon forgotten - so too are the perpetual turmoil's of an irresolvable issue. Kudos' to J.C. for devoting his entire professional career to trying.
Book Review: Apartheid not peace
Summary: 1 Stars
I do agree with one thing Jimmy Carter says in this atrocious book. He does say that Israel's rights "to exist" and "live in peace" have to be accepted. Good for you, Jimmy. I think you should have stopped right there.
Even so, after reading this book, I have to wonder about the phrase "right to exist." We do not take the time to say that Great Britain, or Switzerland, or China, or Germany have a right to exist. These nations simply do exist, and there is no right to smash them, especially for the purpose of killing, robbing, or in other ways oppressing their inhabitants. And I think the same has to apply to Israel.
I also have to wonder about the emphasis on this right to exist being within internationally recognized borders. Plenty of nations are engaged in border disputes. But we don't seem to qualify their existence not merely on the resolution of their border disputes but on a resolution that satisfies some international organization! Once again, I see no need to appear to treat Israel as something special rather than as simply one more of this planet's nations.
Carter says that when it comes to many of the problems in the Middle East, Israel is "the key." I know that many on both sides of the Arab war against Israel agree with that statement. But I do not. Were Israel to be obliterated, I doubt that it would solve any problems at all.
Carter says that Israel has to accept a small Arab state west of the Jordan. Um, why? Israel is land-poor. Why must there be a tiny separate Arab state next to it? If the purpose of that state is simply to fight against Israel, then Carter should be opposing the creation of such a state, not insisting upon it.
Carter says that many Arabs were forced to leave their homes as a result of a UN declaration in 1947. That's misleading. Very few Arabs had to do any such thing until they went to war in an attempt to prevent Jews from having human rights in the region. Many Jews and Arabs have indeed had to move as a result of this war (and the Jews generally had to move far greater distances than the Arabs). I see no reason to blame the Jews (or even the UN) for that.
Carter implies that we need to judge Israel by the way it treats the Arabs. I do think there is something to asking how people treat those who gratuitously attack them. Just how did Czechs treat the Germans? How did Koreans treat the Japanese? How did Jews in Europe treat the National Socialists? But I think it is even more important to ask how people treat those they attack. And I think if one wants to judge human civilization, it is not a bad idea to ask how it treats Israel. I also think it is fair to ask how American presidents, including Carter, treat Israel.
I think this book has more than its share of misleading statements. Just as an example, Carter says that by the end of 1949, Israel had taken 77% of the disputed land in the Levant. But I think this begs the question of what land is disputed. All of Israel is included as "disputed land" here, while Jordan (land which was part of the British Mandate and was declared to be open to Jewish settlement) is dismissed as undisputed Arab land. Well, if some folks want to say that all Arab land is Arab, while all Jewish land is disputed, they are playing a game that others can try. Perhaps someone will say that the 5,500,000 square miles of Arab land are disputed too!
Throughout the book, I kept seeing the same themes: Levantine Arabs are a separate People that need special Rights, Arabs can live in the disputed West Bank but Jews must not do so, and allowing Jews to live in the West Bank is a form of apartheid! Um, Jimmy, the real apartheid is stuffing over five million Jews into a little Bantustan called Israel, and not allowing them to, um, pollute neighboring nations by their presence.
In addition, Carter seems to take it for granted that Israel is too big. And that it would be a crime against Nature were Jews permitted to live in a town such as Ariel.
Okay, Jimmy, I formally apologize to my fellow Americans for having voted for you for President of the United States. As a human being who likes truth, justice, and human rights, I am offended by your book and I do not recommend it.
Book Review: CARTER'S BRAVE & AUTHORITATIVE TESTIMONY
Summary: 5 Stars
In contrast with the majority of his Republican and Democratic colleagues (who recently passed a shameful anti-Palestinian legislation which adds insult to the injury of Israel's victims) ,President Carter is a distinguished and honourable American statesman who , by telling the truth as it is, deserves the admiration and gratitude of all those on the Palestinian and Israeli sides who support peace with justice in the Holy Lands.
Genuine peace is conditioned on Israel making political/financial amend for its original sin of brutal dispossession against the Palestinians which continues today , and at last recognizing the right of Palestinians to a state of their own where they can live/move freely and finally get out of their Israeli imposed prisoner/underclass status. Only by doing so will Israel gain moral legitimacy amongst civilized people everywhere, including its Arab neighbours, who are nauseated by its relentless propaganda of eternal and only victim even whilst it is cruelly oppressing another people : legitimacy will lead to a genuine and long term peace for the benefit of Jews, Christians and Moslems throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.
By bravely condemning Israel's brutal occupation, thieving apartheid policies and callous victimization of entire Palestinian populations, (with its daily harvest of unreported atrocities)President Carter's book is a breath of fresh air in the middle of relentless zionist propaganda and lies against its victims and critics.
He joins a long list of distinguished American, Palestinian, Jewish and Israeli journalists and researchers who have eloquently reported Israeli atrocities and abuses in the Occupied Territories. Gideon Levy recently described the Israeli Army's daily rampage against a defenseless Palestinian population in Gaza as "killing and demolishing, bombing and shelling indiscriminately".
In a recent letter to his brother Alexander (Counterpunch)Patrick Cockburn wrote: "In Gaza, the Israelis have destroyed 70 percent of the orange groves; stopped the fishermen from going out in their boats, destroyed the central power station. More than 50 percent of the population is out of work, and per capita income is less than $2 a day.
Jennifer Loewenstein, of the Middle Eastern studies program at the Unversity of Wisconsin at Madison, has visited Gaza many times and written powerfully about it on the CounterPunch website:"If people received genuine information about Gaza they would be appalled-and that's of course why any real information about it is prevented from getting out. In addition, if the Israeli blockade of virtually all human traffic into Gaza were to end and more visitors could actually get in, more people-including freelance journalists-would be outraged, or stunned into disbelief at what Israel with US and EU backing has done to that miserable strip of land.
Therefore, some of the slanderous accusations and comments made against the former US President on this site and elsewhere , including Kenneth Stein's smearful resignation letter from the Carter Institute, are simply outrageous. Stein, another Israel can do no wrong apologist, shamelessly slanders the former President but provides NO FACTS to support his baseless accusations and no email address to which people who know the historical facts, have read the book and totally disagree with him can respond. Carter's book is a welcome and authoritative contribution to the historical truth on who continues to brutally occupy whose land and who continues to block a peaceful solution of the conflict namely Israel, regretfully with Washington's support and/or complicity.
This distinguished statesman and honourable American has the courage to put the onus of a peaceful solution on the arrogant/greedy Israeli Occupier and his Washington supporters.
Thank you Jimmy Carter for being the noble and human face of America which still believes in human rights,elementary justice and the TRUTH!
Book Review: Truth will prevail, there is always hope for peace!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, I was rignt. Netanyahu bows on the Palestinian State, Financial Times, June 15, 2009. All my critics can kiss my behind. Peace always prevails!!!!!
Contrary to everyone opinion, there is always hope for peace. That is exactly what Jimmy Carter did. The book is an excellent account of the facts, dates and history of the Israel and Palestine conflict. He deserves the Nobel Peace Price!
During the six-day war started on June 5, 1967, Israel fought everyone of its neighbors: Egypt, Syria, Jordan or even Saudi Arabia. How did Israel win the war? With American $$$, they got all the military weapons. Americans always stayed on the Israel side: congressmen, senators, MDs, Judges, professors, corporate CEOs, Hollywood, ....
Jews made of 4% of the US population, but 36% of the corporate CEOs, hugh number of billionaires, mayors.... They are the best and they do see the facts clearly.
It is very important for the best and smartest Jews in US to wake up to the fact and reality. The fact that Israel the problem for the conflict, is clearly demonstrated in this book.
Open request to all American Jews: you give donations for a tax deduction for your billions. Therefore why not give money to Palestine for a change? After all, they have been neglected for 40 years. Life is so tragic and the only way out for the Palestines, is to become a suicide bomber on the Israel bus. Please watch the movie "Paradise Now" and you will understand why becoming a suicide bomber is the only way to paradise for the Palestines.
American Jews, is this what you want? Another 911? This is not a competition for numbers: 3900 deaths in Palestine vs 1100 deaths in Israel. Does this mean that Israel wins? What is the Israel population? The total population of the Arab League countries is a lot more, see below.....
Don't forget, the more land Israel military takes, the more suicide bombers will act. It is a vicious cycle. Peace is the only solution.
Step One: Start a summer camp to get Israel and Palestine kids/teenagers to attend.
Step Two: Donate $$$ by setting up a mutual fund, a hedge fund, a venture capital fund or a private equity in Palestine. Since nobody else does this, you will be making $$$ as a first mover advantage.
Step Three: Develop role models in Palestines for the young generation.
WIth $$$, best professors in Islamic studies or any other relevant field, can be hired.
Step Four: Negotiate Peace with all neighbors: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Yes, it is possible, that is what Condolezza Rice has been doing.
On July 25, 2007, Arab League countries (22 countries, 320 million population) sent the foreign minister of Egypt and Jordan as Arab League delegates to Israel for the first time in history, to help Abbas and Olmert for peace. It is a positive step!
All my critics using Dr. Andrew Bostom papers, your arguments are invalid. You know yourself. Anytime you do not get a job, you call it anti-semitism. Anytime you fail, you call it anti-semitism. It does not work any more. Read today's news, educate yourself and you are a better person. The old news are no longer relevant in peace negotiation.
Step Five: Israel must honor its commitment for Camp David Accord, UN Resultion 242, 338, 1397. Israel must withdraw military forces from the illegally occupied lands.
Where do the Israelis live? No problem. 2,000 Israelis already applied for citizenships in Germany. Hundreds of them have dual US and Israel citizenships, and many have UK, France or Russia citizenships.
Step six to 1000???? How long will this take? Not on our life time????
The person/group who can accomplish the peace, will go down in history forever. It is much better than being another billionaire.
What do you think, all the Jewish billionaires on Forbes 400 list?