Facing controversy over his new book on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, former President Jimmy Carter issued a letter to American Jews explaining his use of the term "apartheid" and sympathizing with Israelis who fear terrorism.
In a "letter to Jewish citizens of America," released Friday by The Carter Center, the former president also said American Christians, not Jews, are responsible for an "overwhelming bias for Israel" in American media.
Carter wrote the letter following his meeting Tuesday with a group of rabbis in Arizona. The rabbis said they would not call for a boycott of Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," but they also would not suggest that anyone read it.
Carter's book follows the peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians during his presidency in 1977-1980. He is critical of all players in not reaching a better accord, but he is especially critical of the Israelis. He previously told The Associated Press that Americans are rarely exposed to anything other than pro-Israeli views in the news media. Read on...
By Nicole Belle
— December 15, 2006
