Carter in Iowa: Oppose 'knee jerk supporters' of Israel
Former President Dhimmi Carter continues his one-man crusade against the Jewish state with a campaign appearance in Iowa in which he calls on voters to oppose 'knee jerk supporters' of Israel and to seek candidates committed to Hat Tip: Israel at Level Ground
Book Cover: David A. Lunde
As long as American politicians are seen as "knee-jerk supporters" of Israel, the country's role as the principal Mideast peace broker will be endangered, former President Jimmy Carter told a crowd Wednesday at the University of Iowa.Time to put Dhimmi out to pasture.
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"The main reason I came to Iowa is to make sure you knew you could shape an outcome in the 2008 presidential election. At least you can screen out candidates," he said. "Make them pledge to you ... that they will take a balanced position between Israel and Palestinians."
In response to accusations that he's biased, Carter noted his work with Israeli and Jewish groups. But he said that unlike current U.S. politicians and diplomats, he's not subject to pressure from interest groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC, a pro-Israeli lobby group, hasn't made an official statement in response to his book.
Carter said he's been able to see the Palestinian perspective and even worked with Israeli officials to monitor Palestinian elections in 1996, 2005 and 2006.
He called living conditions in the West Bank "intolerable," with more than 500 checkpoints as well as walls and fences that snake through Palestinian land.
Carter said such conditions warrant his use of the term "apartheid," though he stressed that several prominent Israeli politicians, journalists and activists have used the word in terms much harsher than his.
"The forced segregation and domination by Israelis is not based on racism," he said. "The driving force for the terrible oppression and persecution comes from a minority of Israelis."
He condemned violence against innocent civilians, but said unresolved Arab-Israeli turmoil continues to fuel flames of extremism and anti-Americanism.
About 20 students from the student group Hawkeyes for Israel passed out pamphlets outside the gathering refuting claims in Carter's book.
"The title 'apartheid' is an obvious direct reference to South Africa," said Aaron Citron, president of the group. "Israel is a democracy, the Arab-Israelis are allowed to vote, there are Arab members of the Knesset who have a fair share as much as anyone else, which I think Carter fails to address."
Nearby a handful of people held green signs that read, "Palestinians have rights too/End the occupation," and "Arab Americans for Mideast peace."
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:43 PM
1 Comments:
I, an evangelical, read Carter's book and it drips with contempt for Israel and obsequious support for terrorists. The thing with Carter who left the Southern Baptists years ago, is that he's targeting Christians in the book and with a new political group disguised as a new type of Baptist coalition due to come out next year, therefore we need insiders within Christianity who can truthfully proclaim scripture and expose and correct the anti-Israel (and even anti-Jewish in general) falsehoods Carter advances with his scripture abusing book. Fortunately, some are stepping up to the plate. Elwood McQuaid came out with a book ("For the Love of Zion") that purports to do just this--my copy's on its way, but having read his past books, I have confidence in its trustworthiness.
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