Jimmy Carter on Israel

Former President Jimmy Carter developed a strongly critical stance toward Israeli policy regarding the Palestinians, particularly in his post-presidency advocacy, culminating in his 2006 book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. He asserted that the separation and domination of Palestinians in the occupied territories, citing issues like segregated roads and military rule, constituted an 'apartheid' system, even arguing it was worse than South Africa's former regime in some aspects. Despite this, Carter's position always included a fundamental commitment to Israeli security, which stemmed in part from his deep Christian faith, creating a complex dynamic in his views.

His tenure as president was marked by the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty following the Camp David Accords, an achievement hailed for bringing peace between the two specific nations. However, he later expressed regret that the accords failed to secure a comprehensive resolution that included Palestinian statehood, which he saw as essential for justice. Carter consistently argued that balanced debate on U.S. policy toward Israel was stifled by powerful political forces and lobby groups in the United States, leading him to use his post-presidency platform to advocate for Palestinian rights and an end to the occupation.