Haaretz: Jimmy Carter: Colonization of Palestine precludes peace
Palestine-Israel-USA, Politics, 3/18/2006

US former President Jimmy Carter wrote, as published by Haaretz (www.Haaretz.com) that "For more than a quarter century, Israeli policy has been in conflict with that of the United States and the international community. Israel's occupation of Palestine has obstructed a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land, regardless of whether Palestinians had no formalized government, one headed by Yasser Arafat or Mahmoud Abbas, or with Abbas as president and Hamas controlling the parliament and cabinet."

President Carter said "The unwavering US position since Dwight Eisenhower's administration has been that Israel's borders coincide with those established in 1949, and since 1967, the universally adopted UN Resolution 242 has mandated Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories. This policy was reconfirmed even by Israel in 1978 and 1993, and emphasized by all American presidents, including George W. Bush. As part of the Quartet, including Russia, the UN and the European Union, he has endorsed a "road map" for peace. But Israel has officially rejected its basic premises with patently unacceptable caveats and prerequisites."

Carter added "The preeminent obstacle to peace is Israel's colonization of Palestine. There were just a few hundred settlers in the West Bank and Gaza when I became president, but the Likud government expanded settlement activity after I left office. President Ronald Reagan condemned this policy, and reaffirmed that Resolution 242 remained 'the foundation stone of America's Middle East peace effort.' President George H.W. Bush even threatened to reduce American aid to Israel."

Carter noted "The future of the West Bank is equally dismal. Especially troublesome is Israel's construction of huge concrete dividing walls in populated areas and high fences in rural areas - located entirely on Palestinian territory and often with deep intrusions to encompass more land and settlements. The wall is designed to surround a truncated Palestine completely, and a network of exclusive highways will cut across what is left of Palestine to connect Israel with the Jordan River Valley. This will never be acceptable either to Palestinians or to the international community, and will inevitably precipitate increased tension and violence within Palestine, and stronger resentment and animosity from the Arab world against America, which will be held accountable for the plight of the Palestinians."

Carter in the Haaretz article noted things the palestinians would be wise to do said "Palestinians must live in peace and dignity, and permanent Israeli settlements on their land are a major obstacle to this goal.

Previous Stories:
  American Rachel Corrie remembered for facing Israeli bulldozer   (3/17/2006)
  Harvard report: Israeli lobby harms United States interests   (3/17/2006)
  Rice: US will deal with Hamas if it changes policy   (3/16/2006)
  Israel plans biggest settlement in West Bank   (3/15/2006)
  Israel has blocked peace talks for 5 years   (2/23/2006)

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