JIMMY CARTER OFFERS AN AL HET…
December 22nd, 2009[Update -- 1002, 23 December: She who writes like she talks offers some perspective on President Carter's letter: Carter: Grandson"s race not reason enough to apologize.
I need to think about this. Is Jason Carter's political campaign sufficient reason for President Carter to write his letter? I don't think so, but I'm unwilling to issue an emphatic negative.]
President Jimmy Carter writes:
The time of Chanukah and the Christian holidays presents an occasion for reflection on the past and for looking to the future. In that vein, I wish to share some thoughts with you about the State of Israel and the Middle East.
I have the hope and a prayer that the State of Israel will flourish as a Jewish state within secure and recognized borders in peaceful co-existence with its neighbors and with all the Moslem States, and that this peaceful co-existence will bring security, prosperity and happiness to the people of Israel and to the people of the Middle East of all faiths.
I have the hope and a prayer that the bloodshed and hatred will change to mutual respect and cooperation, fulfilling the prophetic aspiration that the lion shall lie down with the lamb in harmony and peace. I likewise hope that violent attacks against all civilians will end, which will help set a better framework for commencing negotiations. I further hope that peace negotiations can soon commence, with all issues on the negotiating table.
I have the hope and a prayer that just as Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, the State of Israel will fulfill its destiny as a light unto the nations.
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.
May we work and pray for that better day.
Hag Semach and Happy Chanukah.
Here’s some interesting background/perspective on this action by Carter
Shalom Jill,
Thank you for the additional information.
I may be too close to Carter to see the cynicism here. Do you think the Al Het is sincere?
B’shalom,
Jeff
That’s between him and God, I suppose. I really don’t know. For some Jews, his transgressions run very deep. To me, I’ve never really understood or been able to reconcile how the person so much ID’d with the Camp David Accord and Begin and Sadat could have said what he said the way he said it in that last book. Maybe he’s going the way of the Reagan at this stage in life?? I don’t really think so – but I don’t know. What do you think?
Shalom Jill,
I read the book as soon as it came out and I have to say that I found nothing objectionable in it from a progressive international perspective.
It is only if you take the position that it is not possible to criticize the political decisions of the Israeli government, in as much as those decision affect the political environment of the Middle East, that problems arise.
What in particular in President Carter’s book did you find transgressive (which I find to be an odd political term in this usage)?
B’shalom,
Jeff
I did not read the book, I’ve only heard him speak about it, others speak about it and read critiques.
But I’ve written before that I don’t support the settlement expansion and that I don’t find Hamas to be an acceptable actor in peace negotiations.
My impression was that the book gave an unbalanced perspective of the sources of the problems in the region and I do not subscribe to the genocide and apartheid descriptors applied at times, the latter by him, the former by others, to the situation between Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Shalom Jill,
Want to borrow my copy?
B’shalom,
Jeff
Borrow? Sure. Read…another question entirely. :)