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Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid is a book written by former President of the United States Jimmy Carter. It is being published by Simon & Schuster and released on 14 November 2006. The former president asserts in the book that Israel’s current policies in the Palestinian territories constitute “a system of apartheid, with two peoples occupying the same land but completely separated from each other, with Israelis totally dominant and suppressing violence by depriving Palestinians of their basic human rights.”
Response
The topic of the book was controversial even prior to its expected release.
Pre-Mid-Term 2006 Criticism from Democrats
In particular, democrats distanced themselves from the former Democratic President's book prior to the November 2006 mid-term election.
On 30 October, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi stated that the book does not represent their views on the Israel.
“While I have tremendous respect for former President Carter, I fundamentally disagree and do not support his analysis of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Dean's statement said. “On this issue President Carter speaks for himself, the opinions in his book are his own, they are not the views or position of the Democratic Party. I and other Democrats will continue to stand with Israel in its battle against terrorism and for a lasting peace with its neighbors.”
Pelosi wrote: "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. With all due respect to former President Carter, he does not speak for the Democratic Party on Israel.”
U.S. Representatives Steve Israel, Charlie Rangel, Jerrold Nadler, and John Conyers, Jr. also released statements critical of the book. “I cannot agree with the book’s title and its implications about apartheid," Conyers wrote. "I recently called the former president to express my concerns about the title of the book, and to request that the title be changed.” Congressman Israel said, “The reason for the Palestinian plight is the Palestinians. Their leadership has no regard for the quality of life for their people and no capability of providing security or enforcing peace, and they have no one to blame but themselves.” He also added that the “book clearly does not reflect the direction of the party; it reflects the opinion of one man.”
Aaron Miller, a former State Department official who has consistently advocated a greater American role in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, said that Carter’s book would not influence key decision makers in the administration. But he added, “the one thing that I assure you is that Carter’s book will be read” by a wider audience.
See also
References
- ^ Siegel, Jennifer (27 October 2006). "Dems Repudiate Carter Book". Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 31 October.
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