De wonderen zijn de wereld nog niet uit, en Jimmy Carter, die de afgelopen jaren zo ongeveer een dagtaak had gemaakt van het bekritiseren van Israel, biedt zijn excuses aan. Hij erkent dat hij Israel 'gestigmatiseerd' kan hebben en dat het onder moeilijke omstandigheden moet opereren. Een paar maanden geleden al liet hij iets van een veranderend inzicht zien toen hij op bezoek in Efrat begrip toonde voor de positie van de kolonisten, die hij voordien voortdurend als het grote obstakel tot vrede bestempelde. Het is een vreemd verhaal: iemand die fel tegen de bezetting is, komt juist in Efrat tot bezinning, en vraagt nu de Joodse gemeenschap om vergeving. Het kan verkeren. Het zal allemaal wel met religie te maken hebben, een terrein waarop ik niet erg thuis ben. In Nederland is ook iemand die zich graag met Carter vergelijkt, ook oud regeringsleider is en ook een boek heeft geschreven en ook christelijk is, extreem anti-Israel. De Joodse gemeenschap heeft van hem ook wel een excuusje verdiend zo in de donkere dagen voor kerst. Zet hem op Dries. Je kan het!
RP
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Carter apologizes for 'stigmatizing Israel'
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3823324,00.html
Former US president offers US Jewish community heartfelt apology for any contribution he may have had to Jewish nation's negative image
Yitzhak Benhorin 12.21.09, 22:54
Carter apologizes for 'stigmatizing Israel'
http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3823324,00.html
Former US president offers US Jewish community heartfelt apology for any contribution he may have had to Jewish nation's negative image
Yitzhak Benhorin 12.21.09, 22:54
WASHINGTON – Former US President Jimmy Carter on Monday asked for the Jewish community's forgiveness for any negative stigma he may have caused Israel over the years.
Carter, who is not a popular character in Israel, enraged the American Jewish community's in the past with various statements made in his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."
In the book, Carter blamed Israel for impeding the Middle East peace process via settlement construction, further claiming such a policy will lead to apartheid.
The former president also accused Israel of interfering with US efforts to broker peace in the region.
"We must recognize Israel's achievements under difficult circumstances, even as we strive in a positive way to help Israel continue to improve its relations with its Arab populations, but we must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel.
"As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so," he said.
"Al Het" refers to the Yom Kippur prayer asking God forgiveness for sins committed.
Head of the Anti-Defamation League Abraham Foxman welcomed Carter's apology, saying it marked the beginning of reconciliation.
Carter, who is not a popular character in Israel, enraged the American Jewish community's in the past with various statements made in his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."
In the book, Carter blamed Israel for impeding the Middle East peace process via settlement construction, further claiming such a policy will lead to apartheid.
The former president also accused Israel of interfering with US efforts to broker peace in the region.
"We must recognize Israel's achievements under difficult circumstances, even as we strive in a positive way to help Israel continue to improve its relations with its Arab populations, but we must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel.
"As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so," he said.
"Al Het" refers to the Yom Kippur prayer asking God forgiveness for sins committed.
Head of the Anti-Defamation League Abraham Foxman welcomed Carter's apology, saying it marked the beginning of reconciliation.
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