Former President Jimmy Carter maps out a path to peace in the Middle East By Sharon Anderson In his new book, We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land, Jimmy Carter presents a lucid and compelling plan for peace in the Middle East. Utilizing decades of experience analyzing the history of the region, Carter maintains that the time is ripe for a solution to the conflict. In a telephone interview with Northside San Francisco on Feb. 12, the day after the Israeli national elections, I spoke with President Carter, who’s also a Nobel Prize Laureate. The Israeli national elections took place yesterday. How will the election results affect the peace process? It’s not over yet. We don’t know who the prime minister will be. If it’s Benjamin Netanyahu, there might be more conservative elements that are against some of the points needed in establishing an independent Palestinian state. So the election results could have negative implications? Politics will acquiesce and give the people what they want. That’s right. The current economic situation in the United States has created a lot of domestic turmoil. How can we get the American citizenry behind a problem on foreign soil when they are so distracted by immediate personal concerns? Obama has prioritized peace between Israel and Palestine in his presidential campaign, and early on he appointed George Mitchell as the American special envoy to the Middle East. Why do you think he’s the perfect choice? How much freedom do we currently have in diplomatic circles? Has President Obama improved our situation internationally? This is a positive and hopeful message. Thank you for your time and generosity. Sharon Anderson is a Los Angeles - based painter and arts writer who appears regularly in the Northside San Francisco. She may be reached through www.mindtheimage.com |
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