Palestine - Peace Not Apartheid
A review of the controversial book by Jimmy Carter
Palestine - Peace Not Apartheid is a controversial book by former President Jimmy Carter outlining his ideas on how to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid is one of those books that everyone has an opinion about -- even if they have not yet read it!
Former President Jimmy Carter has always had a special interest in the Middle East. Carter was President of the United States for one term, 1977 to 1981. In 1978, he helped to achieve a peace settlement between Israel and Egypt, by mediating the Camp David Accords. The Carter Center was founded in 1982, to advance human rights and help eliminate suffering around the world. Jimmy Carter has remained very concerned about the Middle East, and has travelled to the area numerous times.
Drawing upon his experiences with the Camp David Accords, as well taking into account the volatile history of the area, Carter describes some ideas to help achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. The book has been accused of being anti-Israel, but Carter makes it clear that a stable, secure Israel has a right to exist. His solution is two-state, which according to polls is the one most supported by both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples (though far from unanimous).
His comprehensive history of the contemporary situation is detailed, and Carter includes several appendices of U.N. resolutions of which Israel is currently in violation of, particularly U. N. Resolution 242. Including such information is not anti-Israel -- it is simply a matter of fact. He lays much of the blame of the Middle East crisis with the colonialization by Israel of the Occupied Territiories, and this makes some people angry.
The primary controversy surrounding the book, however, stems from Carter's use of the word 'apartheid' in the title. However, Carter explains in the pages that the situation in Israel-Palestine is very different from that which existed in South Africa. Carter has also been accused to misrepresenting historical facts, and over-emphasizing the suffering of the Palestinian people. At the same time, Carter explains how peace is important to both sides of the conflict, including the Israelis who live with the threat of terror and who were also victimized in the war with Lebanon during the summer of 2006.
This is the kind of book that is going to get out of date very quickly, due to the speed with which events occur in that part of the world. While based in facts, it is one person's opinion, albeit a very informed opinion from one who has spent time in this area and who has a history of being a peace maker. There should be little doubt that Carter's heart is int he right place. But no matter what perspective the reader has, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid is an important read, if for no other reason to see for themselves what the fuss is all about.
