Novak, Carter and Israel

Bob Novak, in his column in today's Washington Post, "Carter's Clarity, Bush's Befuddlement", discusses the new documentary, "Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains", about Carter's book tour promoting his latest book, "Palestine Peace Not Apartheid." Here are some of the last few paragraphs:

"In the movie, Carter repeatedly declares that Israel must end its occupation of Palestine for peace to have a chance. The hecklers at his appearances and confused interviewers only provoke a stubborn Carter, who says chopping up the West Bank is actually worse than apartheid, just as Palestinian peace-seekers told me this year in Jerusalem.

A broader, more detailed analysis can be found in the newly updated American version of 'Lords of the Land' by Professor Idith Zertal and leading Israeli columnist Akiva Eldar. This scathing account of the occupation, first published in Israel in 2005, declares that former prime minister Ariel Sharon's plan for a security wall was intended to 'take hold of as much West Bank territory as possible and block the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.'

As Israelis, Eldar and Zertal employ language that not even Carter dares use: ......

In 'Man From Plains,' Carter goes further in this direction than any other prominent American has to date, and people who wander into a movie theater to see the film may be shocked. It raises questions that must at least be asked for the contemplated [Middle East] conference at Annapolis to have any chance."
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I agree with Novak's sentiments, although I was appalled by Carter's use of the "loaded" term "Apartheid" in his book's title. This couldn't do anything but inflame the debate, which is already hot enough as it is. I have always thought Carter had a "screw loose" somewhere, like the time he invited the President of Haiti to teach in his Sunday School class. But I digress.

I am (for the most part) a non-observant Jew, and I am also not a Zionist. (These two properties are logically independent of one another!) I have always been amazed that anyone who criticizes Israeli policies, except an Israeli, is almost automatically branded an anti-Semite, and that many American Jews are reflexive rather than reflective in their attitude towards Israel. Last summer, during the Israeli-Lebanese war, I had a post, "On Just Wars", which touched on the above issues. I also quit the Anti-Defamation League, which I had belonged to for years, because it had become such a Zionist cheerleader.

The group I support that is involved with Israeli-Palestinian issues, Americans for Peace Now, is about as even handed as one can get. They are very concerned about the proliferation of settlements, and illegal settlements, on the West Bank. Their Israeli counterpart, Shalom Achshav, supported the war last summer, up to a point anyway, as did virtually every other group in Israel.