In the wake of Jimmy Carter’s op-ed this weekend on the Arab-Israeli conflict arguing — among other things — that a settlement freeze is "the key" to an agreement, the National Jewish Democratic Council is making sure people don’t think the former president speaks for Democrats on Israel.
"Carter’s simplistic views of the conflict are dramatically different than the current administration’s," said NJDC CEO Ira Forman. "In Sunday’s analysis, the former president claims that the solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict lies totally with Israeli actions. He makes no mention of Hamas, terrorism, or incitement to violence."
"With age normally comes wisdom and an understanding that rarely does truth lie on one side only," he continued. "This concept seems lost on the ‘Elder’ Carter."
Forman’s full statement is after the jump:[[READMORE]]
Ira N. Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement:
President Jimmy Carter has a history of peddling a one-sided narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Regretfully he is at it again with his September 6 op-ed in The Washington Post, “The Elders of the Middle East.”
Carter has a commendable record of post-presidential public service in developing such groups as Habitat for Humanity. Moreover, we agree with some of Carter’s foreign policy positions – such as the advisability of working toward a two state solution.
However, every administration – Democratic or Republican – since 1981 has been irked by this former president’s foreign policy freelancing. Carter’s simplistic views of the conflict are dramatically different than the current administration’s. In Sunday’s analysis, the former president claims that the solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict lies totally with Israeli actions. He makes no mention of Hamas, terrorism, or incitement to violence.
With age normally comes wisdom and an understanding that rarely does truth lie on one side only. This concept seems lost on the “Elder” Carter.
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