This interesting communication came from the Council for the National Interest claiming that Jimmy Carter’s efforts to mend ties with the Jewish community were rebuffed, not only from Jewish members of the Congress, but from the Secretary of State, Condolezza Rice. Only reformed or liberal Jewish organizations and individuals (like the Religious Action Center, Israel Policy Forum, Americans for Peace Now, Brit Tzedek V’Shalom, New Israel Fund, and a dove from AIPAC) reportedly met with and supported Carter’s efforts. Why isn’t anyone surprised?
The article bearing this news appeared in the Jewish Daily Forward on October 31, 2007.
CARTER’S EFFORTS TO MEND TIES WITH COMMUNITY GET COLD SHOULDER, with subtitle: Foxman: ‘I Didn’t Want To Be Used’
Abe Foxman of course represents the remnants of what the Anti-Defamation League used to be, when it scoured the US and reported on, and often acted upon, demonstrations of anti-Semitism. At times, it even took to the streets to counter prejudice. Today, under Foxman, the ADL has only one theme: that criticism of Israel is anti-Semitic, and its only actions are words. Foxman not only took on Jimmy Carter, but also the Mearsheimer and Walt team that excoriated the right wing Israel Lobby, noting its damage to the US as well as Israel.
Washington – Jimmy Carter’s newest efforts to repair relations with the Jewish community were rebuffed not once but twice last week, and at the very highest levels.
Carter’s first outreach effort came in an invitation to Jewish groups to discuss ways that the former president could help make the upcoming Middle East peace conference a success. While Carter invited most of the major Jewish organizations, the event was only attended by representatives of the Reform movement and by several smaller dovish Jewish groups.
Apart from his “I didn’t want to be used” comment, Foxman, on turning down Carter’s invitation, also said, “I didn’t think anything constructive could come out of the meeting, except for him being able to say he met with Jewish leaders.”
Surprising to some, in spite of strong support from liberal Jewish organizations, Carter encountered similar rebuff from liberal Jewish lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “A closed-door meeting he held with Jewish members of Congress turned into a passionate rebuke of the former president’s views on Israel and the Middle East.” The event, which was hosted by California Democrat Tom Lantos, reportedly served as a forum for Jewish Democrats to vent their outrage at Carter’s book. “I told him that the Jewish community, that has great respect for his work around the world, is extremely hurt, disappointed and frustrated from his views and that he cannot serve as an honest broker,” Gary Ackerman of NY said. A similar message was repeated by Lantos and three other Jewish lawmakers, Henry Waxman, Howard Berman and Jane Harman. When invited by this group to apologize, Carter did not do so. His strained relations with Jewish organizations are related to the publication of his book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” and remarks he made regarding the Jewish lobby’s influence on American foreign policy. As such, just what was Carter to apologize for: telling the truth?
This effort of Carter’s to approach the Jewish community is part of his work with a group known as The Elders. It was founded by South Africa’s Nelson Mandela last summer, and consists of 13 senior statesmen who are attempting to use their influence and experience to deal with the world’s most pressing conflicts. Along with Carter, members include Desmond Tutu, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan. The group’s first mission was to Darfur. It is now looking into taking an active role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It is hard to imagine that the work of such an esteemed group of humanitarians and Nobel Peace Prize winners would not be welcome. Yet, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and Carter himself have been called anti-Semites in the past for their advocacy of a Palestinian nation as well as criticism of human rights abuses suffered under Israeli occupation. People who stand on the other side of this group need to take a good look at themselves.
Finally,
Another stop during Carter’s day in Washington was at the State Department, where he met with Secretary of State Condolezza Rice to discuss his views on the Middle East. Rice has recently conducted a series of consultations with former administration officials in order to “draw on the historical record and experiences of others,” as described by spokesman Sean McCormack. The consultations included talks with former president Bill Clinton and several of Rice’s predecessors: Madeleine Albright, James Baker and Henry Kissinger.
But a State Department official told the Forward that the meeting with Carter was not part of these consultations.
“She was not seeking advice from him,” the official said, stressing that it was Carter who asked for the meeting and that Rice agreed “out of respect.”
Interesting. If you tell the truth about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the apartheid track it is taking, given Israel’s continuing colonization of the West Bank, you should first apologize, even if it is unclear what Carter should apologize for. Then Rice meets with Carter, “out of respect,” emphasizing she did not ask for the meeting.
Rice recently went to the Middle East including Israel in order to prepare for the upcoming Annapolis conference where the two state resolution is to be discussed, but she was only able to get an agreement on Israel’s participation if she does not discuss specifics, which is to say, so long as she does not discuss a two state solution.
George Orwell died on January 21, 1950, to early to witness these interactions.