Palestine: Peace not Apartheid

[Halden]

Has anyone read Palestine: Peace not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter? Once you get passed his "Historical" account of Israel (which includes Abraham founding the 12 tribes and Jesus' birth) in is a very interesting analysis of the situation. I found Carter handling of the material fair and concise and he manages to discuss many of th issues without the despair that many, including myself, get when debating the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

 

[Almo]

Not yet, but it's next after I finish "The Dark Valley: A Panorama of the 1930's."

 

[Dave1001]

I haven't read it. Frankly, it's tough to find the incentive, since it's not going to improve my health or make me any money.

 

[Halden]

I haven't read it. Frankly, it's tough to find the incentive, since it's not going to improve my health or make me any money.

Is that really your sole motivation for reading books? Well I guess then you really should take a pass.

Anyone that enjoys reading as an intellectual exercise however really should check it out.

 

[davefoc]

I'm looking forward to reading it.

I haven't bought it yet because I suspect that it will be a Christmas gift. But I'll check back in after I've started it. Sorry to hear about the "historical" beginning.

 

[jmontecillo01]

In most of the forums I used to partake, once you question the actions of the goverment of Israel, Majority of Americans would be jumping up and down. We are fortunate here in Oz that ABC has a balanced approach to reporting. They show us the result of war on both side.

I remember a few years back when a professor in an American university was fired for questioning the actions of Israel. I think Carter is brave enough to examine the situation with open eyes and without fear of backlash.

There was a Marine colonel that I remember in one of the forums. With regards to "suicide bombers", he said that in war, you use everything at your disposal. He also said that "More importantly, those actions caught the attention of the world".

 

[David Swidler]

In most of the forums I used to partake, once you question the actions of the goverment of Israel, Majority of Americans would be jumping up and down. We are fortunate here in Oz that ABC has a balanced approach to reporting. They show us the result of war on both side.

I remember a few years back when a professor in an American university was fired for questioning the actions of Israel. I think Carter is brave enough to examine the situation with open eyes and without fear of backlash.

There was a Marine colonel that I remember in one of the forums. With regards to "suicide bombers", he said that in war, you use everything at your disposal. He also said that "More importantly, those actions caught the attention of the world".

So, by that logic, Israel should actually pursue a policy of ethnic cleansing against the Palestinians, since it's a means they have at their disposal in this war, and it would certainly eliminate that particular problem.

 

[pgwenthold]

If nothing else, it's hard to criticize Carter as being ignorant in these matters. I heard him discuss the book on Al Franken's show.

I was never a fan of Carter as president (back in my republican days), but these days I am more interested to hear what he has to say. I think one difference now is that he can chose to only talk about those things that he knows a lot about (I am always interested in his views on the separation of church and state, which he strongly supports, despite being undeniably evangelical).

 

[Dave1001]

In most of the forums I used to partake, once you question the actions of the goverment of Israel, Majority of Americans would be jumping up and down. We are fortunate here in Oz that ABC has a balanced approach to reporting. They show us the result of war on both side.

I remember a few years back when a professor in an American university was fired for questioning the actions of Israel. I think Carter is brave enough to examine the situation with open eyes and without fear of backlash.

There was a Marine colonel that I remember in one of the forums. With regards to "suicide bombers", he said that in war, you use everything at your disposal. He also said that "More importantly, those actions caught the attention of the world".

Seemed like a reasonable post until your last paragraph.

 

[Halden]

Up until the new government we here in Canada have also had a fairly balanced view of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict but it is starting to get murky with the Conservatives trying to saddle up to the current US administration.

There was a Marine colonel that I remember in one of the forums. With regards to "suicide bombers", he said that in war, you use everything at your disposal. He also said that "More importantly, those actions caught the attention of the world".

I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and hope that you are merely recounting a tale to show the normal bias displayed in discussions and not actually supporting Suicide Bombers or any attacks on civilians as a reasonable action by either side.

 

[jmontecillo01]

I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt and hope that you are merely recounting a tale to show the normal bias displayed in discussions and not actually supporting Suicide Bombers or any attacks on civilians as a reasonable action by either side.

Thank you. I was only quoting the Marine colonel who said that. I can only assume that he means that we have to take a look at the techniques used by both sides. Unfortunately, we seldom see nor question the results of bombs, missiles, tanks and bullets.

When it comes to death and suffering, it does not matter what method is used if the result of the action is the same. I am againts any action that would cause death and suffering.

The term collateral damage hides the human face of the victims of war.

Why is it that if civilians die on one side, we call them victims, while if the other side suffers the same thing we call them collateral damage.

 

[Skeptic]

There was a Marine colonel that I remember in one of the forums. With regards to "suicide bombers", he said that in war, you use everything at your disposal. He also said that "More importantly, those actions caught the attention of the world".

So Israel, I suppose, should carpet-bomb Palestinians towns and genocide all Palestinians if it can, since, in war, one should use all the means at one's disposal.

 

[Halden]

I think this Quote just about summarizes Mr. Carter's assessment of the situation

Continuing impediments have been the desire of some Israelis for Palestinian land, the refusal of some Arabs to accept Israel as a neighbor [sic], the absence of a clear and authoritative Palestinian voice acceptable to Israel, the refusal of both sides to join peace talks without onerous preconditions, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and the recent lack of any protracted effort by the United States to pursue peace based on international law and previous agreements ratified by Israel.