PrintJimmy Carter: Unforgiven
Is former president Jimmy Carter (D) bi polar or a schizophrenic with multiple personalities?
It seems so. Around the same time that the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) published
a letter (allegedly) from Carter apologizing for any actions or words of his stigmatizing Israel and asking for forgiveness
In a letter released exclusively to JTA, the former U.S. president sent a seasonal message wishing for peace between Israel and its neighbors, and concluded: "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."
the British Guardian published an op-ed by the very same Jimmy Carter, "Gaza Must Be Rebuilt Now,"stigmatizing Israel and blaming the country for causing suffering in Gaza. And rejecting peace (implied in his "apology" when he stated he would "help Israel continue to improve its relations with its Arab populations" but not demanding anything of Arabs/Muslims).
Oh sure, he'll claim he is being balanced but while he's shedding crocodile tears at the plight of Gaza, still unbuilt a year after Israel's defensive war to stop the downpour of death and destruction from the deadly missiles fired from there, he utters not a word about the terror from Gaza that precipitated it.
I visited Gaza after the devastating January war and observed homeless people huddling in makeshift tents, under plastic sheets, or in caves dug into the debris of their former homes. Despite offers by Palestinian leaders and international agencies to guarantee no use of imported materials for even defensive military purposes, cement, lumber, and panes of glass are not being permitted to pass entry points into Gaza. The US and other nations have accepted this abhorrent situation without forceful corrective action.
I have discussed ways to assist the citizens of Gaza with a number of Arab and European leaders and their common response is that the Israeli blockade makes any assistance impossible. Donors point out that they have provided enormous aid funds to build schools, hospitals and factories, only to see them destroyed in a few hours by precision bombs and missiles. Without international guarantees, why risk similar losses in the future?
(snip)
Without ascribing blame to any of the disputing parties, the Quartet also should begin rebuilding Gaza by organising relief efforts under the supervision of an active special envoy, overseeing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and mediating an opening of the crossings. The cries of homeless and freezing people demand immediate relief.
He won't ascribe blame, he won't acknowledge there is a difference between aggressor, Hamas, which has vowed, to continue to fight until Israel is totally destroyed, and Israel which wants peace. He asks the "Quartet," a group of outsiders, to begin rebuilding Gaza but says nothing about equivalent help for the towns of Israel that endured years of Arab terror.
While Judaism encourages forgiveness it doesn't accept insincere or phony apologies. And that's just what Carter has done.
