MORE CRITICISM OF JIMMY CARTER'S NEW BOOK

Carter's Compromised Statesmanship - David A. Harris
It is startling that a former president who prides himself on his ongoing contribution to world peace would write a crude polemic that compromises any pretense to objectivity and fairness. Discussing President Bill Clinton's peacemaking efforts, Carter discounts well-established claims that Israel accepted and Arafat rejected a generous offer to create a Palestinian state. The extent that Carter goes in propping up an extreme version of the Palestinian narrative, and in burying and devaluing any trace of the Israeli and American versions of events, is deeply disappointing.

In accepting the Palestinian narrative, Carter has conveniently revised history, excused the Palestinians for their tragic failure to come to terms with Israel each time the chance presented itself, and blithely ignored Israel's very legitimate security concerns. Carter's book will not help the cause of peace, and with its publication, the world has lost a statesman at a time when one is most needed. The writer is executive director of the American Jewish Committee. (Jerusalem Post)

"Apartheid" Label Doesn't Fit Mideast - Cedric L. Suzman
Former President Jimmy Carter's use of the word "apartheid" in the title of his new book on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is highly regrettable because it is inaccurate and especially because it is unfair to black South Africans and the African National Congress in particular. The evils and injustices of apartheid were truly unique to South Africa and should not be denigrated by loosely using the word to describe other situations.

Israel's actions must be viewed in the context of the overall conflict: the Palestinians' refusal since 1948 to recognize Israel's right to exist and their decision to resort to airplane hijackings, murder on the high seas, suicide bombings, and other forms of terrorism and armed conflict. Regrettably, Israel has never had a Mandela with whom it could negotiate. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Carter's Book: Presidential Pulp (Honest Reporting)
.... Carter's views have also been disowned by high-ranking members of his own Democratic Party including DNC Chairman Howard Dean and Speaker Elect Nancy Pelosi as well as leading African-American congressman Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) who said the use of apartheid in the book's title "does not serve the cause of peace and the use of it against the Jewish people in particular, who have been victims of the worst kind of discrimination, discrimination resulting in death, is offensive and wrong."

Carter's 'Replacement Theology' (NYSun)
On Carter's latest run of outbursts, Gary Bauer tells Seth Gitell:

"From a theological standpoint, I think he must be embracing replacement theology. [The idea that] when God says 'Israel I will bless, he's really saying, 'the Church I will bless.' Theology aside, it's hard to distinguish his views on Israel from garden variety anti-Semitism. He seems to have infinite forgiveness for Israel's tormenters and infinite enmity for Israel and Israel's efforts to defend itself."