Jimmy Carter -- Recognize Hamas' legitimacy!

[Cow Poke]

Warning to Jimmy -- FoxNews story!

Source: FoxNews

"The international community's initial goal should be the full restoration of the free movement of people and goods to and from Gaza through Israel, Egypt and the sea. Concurrently, the United States and EU should recognize that Hamas is not just a military but also a political force," Carter and Robinson wrote. "Hamas cannot be wished away, nor will it cooperate in its own demise. Only by recognizing its legitimacy as a political actor -- one that represents a substantial portion of the Palestinian people -- can the West begin to provide the right incentives for Hamas to lay down its weapons."

Carter has voiced support for Hamas in the past, and in 2009 visited with Hamas leaders on a high-profile trip.

© Copyright Original Source

So, the second worst president in the US agrees with Siam!

[rogue06]

Carter's article where he calls for "recognizing Hamas as a legitimate political actor"

Source: How to Fix It: Ending this war in Gaza begins with recognizing Hamas as a legitimate political actor.

Israelis and Palestinians are still burying their loved ones as Gaza's third war in six years continues. Since July 8, when this war began, more than 1,600 Palestinian and 65 Israeli lives have been sacrificed. Many in the world are heartbroken in the powerless certainty that more will die, that more are being killed every hour.

This tragedy results from the deliberate obstruction of a promising move toward peace in the region, when a reconciliation agreement among the Palestinian factions was announced in April. This was a major concession by Hamas, in opening Gaza to joint control under a technocratic government that did not include any Hamas members. The new government also pledged to adopt the three basic principles demanded by the Middle East Quartet comprised of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and Russia: nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and adherence to past agreements. Tragically, Israel rejected this opportunity for peace and has succeeded in preventing the new government's deployment in Gaza.

Two factors are necessary to make Palestinian unity possible. First, there must be at least a partial lifting of the 7-year-old sanctions and blockade that isolate the 1.8 million people in Gaza. There must also be an opportunity for the teachers, police, and welfare and health workers on the Hamas payroll to be paid. These necessary requirements for a human standard of living continue to be denied. Instead, Israel blocked Qatar's offer to provide funds to pay civil servants' salaries, and access to and from Gaza has been further tightened by Egypt and Israel.

There is no humane or legal justification for the way the Israeli Defense Forces are conducting this war. Israeli bombs, missiles, and artillery have pulverized large parts of Gaza, including thousands of homes, schools, and hospitals. More than 250,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinian noncombatants have been killed. Much of Gaza has lost access to water and electricity completely. This is a humanitarian catastrophe.

There is never an excuse for deliberate attacks on civilians in conflict. These are war crimes. This is true for both sides. Hamas's indiscriminate targeting of Israeli civilians is equally unacceptable. However, three Israeli civilians have been killed by Palestinian rockets, while an overwhelming majority of the 1,600 Palestinians killed have been civilians, including more than 330 children. The need for international judicial proceedings to investigate and end these violations of international law should be taken very seriously.

The U.N. Security Council should focus on what can be done to limit the potential use of force by both sides. It should vote for a resolution recognizing the inhumane conditions in Gaza and mandate an end to the siege. That resolution could also acknowledge the need for international monitors who can report on movements into and out of Gaza as well as cease-fire violations. It should then enshrine strict measures to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Early discussions have already taken place. The Elders, an international group of elder statesmen of which we are a part, hope these discussions will continue and reach fruition.

At the Palestinians' request, the Swiss government is considering convening an international conference of the signatory states of the Geneva Conventions, which enshrine the humanitarian laws of warfare. This could pressure Israel and Hamas into observing their duties under international law to protect civilian populations. We sincerely hope all states -- especially those in the West, with the greatest power -- attend and live up to their obligations to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of populations in occupied territory.

Unity between Fatah and Hamas is currently stronger than it has been for many years. As Elders, we believe this is one of the most encouraging developments in recent years and welcome it warmly. This presents an opportunity for the Palestinian Authority to reassume control over Gaza -- an essential first step towards Israel and Egypt lifting the blockade.

The Palestinian Authority cannot manage the task of administering Gaza on its own. It will need the prompt return of the EU Border Assistance Mission, an international effort to help monitor border crossings that was launched in 2005 and suspended in 2007. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton has already offered to reinstate the program, covering not only Rafah but all of Gaza's crossings. Egypt and Israel would, in turn, cooperate with international monitors to be deployed in Gaza and along its borders, backed by a U.N. Security Council mandate to protect civilian populations. A valuable precedent for trust-building between Egypt and Israel is the international peacekeeping force operating in the Sinai, mandated by the peace treaty signed by the two countries in 1979.

The international community's initial goal should be the full restoration of the free movement of people and goods to and from Gaza through Israel, Egypt, and the sea. Concurrently, the United States and EU should recognize that Hamas is not just a military but also a political force. Hamas cannot be wished away, nor will it cooperate in its own demise. Only by recognizing its legitimacy as a political actor -- one that represents a substantial portion of the Palestinian people -- can the West begin to provide the right incentives for Hamas to lay down its weapons. Ever since the internationally monitored 2006 elections that brought Hamas to power in Palestine, the West's approach has manifestly contributed to the opposite result.

Ultimately, however, lasting peace depends on the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel.

Leaders in Israel, Palestine, and the world's major powers should believe that policy changes are within reach that would move Israelis and Palestinians closer to a day when the skies over the Holy Land can forever fall silent.

Source

© Copyright Original Source

[tabibito]

Maybe the Hamas that Jimmy Carter is rabbiting on about is in one of those alternate universe thingies.

[Sparko]

Warning to Jimmy -- FoxNews story!

Source: FoxNews

"The international community's initial goal should be the full restoration of the free movement of people and goods to and from Gaza through Israel, Egypt and the sea. Concurrently, the United States and EU should recognize that Hamas is not just a military but also a political force," Carter and Robinson wrote. "Hamas cannot be wished away, nor will it cooperate in its own demise. Only by recognizing its legitimacy as a political actor -- one that represents a substantial portion of the Palestinian people -- can the West begin to provide the right incentives for Hamas to lay down its weapons."

Carter has voiced support for Hamas in the past, and in 2009 visited with Hamas leaders on a high-profile trip.

© Copyright Original Source

So, the second worst president in the US agrees with Siam!

I recognize Hamas' legitimacy: as an insane terroristic government who cares nothing for their own citizens, except as shields to deter any counter attacks. If Israel tried something like that with their women and children, Hamas would cheer. It would be an incentive to them to attack, rather than a deterrent like it is to any sane country.

[Cow Poke]

Maybe Jimmy is nervous about Obama taking away his title of being the worst President ever, and is fighting to regain his title!

[Sparko]

Maybe Jimmy is nervous about Obama taking away his title of being the worst President ever, and is fighting to regain his title!

Must be it. So far it seems to be a tie, but Carter has had longer to be stupid.

[Juvenal]

There's very little not-to-like about my favorite ex-President, from his work for Habitat for Humanity, to international election monitoring, to this, another example of his support for peace initiatives. The fact that he outrages right wing extremists is just another sign he's doing it right. It's deeply ironic that folks reading, listening, or watching FOX consider his view an alternate reality.

As ever, Jesse

[Cow Poke]

There's very little not-to-like about my favorite ex-President, from his work for Habitat for Humanity,

That's actually a very admirable thing. I read an article by one of the secret service agents who guarded him after he left office, and the guy said, "The President looked at me standing there in my suit, and said, "If you have to follow me around, take that jacket off and grab a hammer". The Secret Service guy said Carter did that with his typical charm and big smile.

to international election monitoring, to this, another example of his support for peace initiatives.

And here, of course, is where we part company... you don't "support peace initiatives" by legitimizing a terrorist organization who won't back away from swearing an oath to kill all the Jews.

The fact that he outrages right wing extremists is just another sign he's doing it right. It's deeply ironic that folks reading, listening, or watching FOX consider his view an alternate reality.

As ever, Jesse

He doesn't outrage me... he amuses me. He's like the kindly old grandfather who... well, I'll stop there.

[Sparko]

There's very little not-to-like about my favorite ex-President, from his work for Habitat for Humanity, to international election monitoring, to this, another example of his support for peace initiatives. The fact that he outrages right wing extremists is just another sign he's doing it right. It's deeply ironic that folks reading, listening, or watching FOX consider his view an alternate reality.

As ever, Jesse

Jimmy Carter is a very good person socially and wants to help others and does so. I agree with his ideals on that matter. But as a president, he sucked. A president can't appease everyone and needs to make tough decisions sometimes. Jimmy Carter wasn't really able to do that most of the time. OPEC pretty much walked all over him. I remember the gas shortages and how fast the prices went up when he was president.

In the case of Hamas and Israel, he is just wrong. Hamas has publicly stated that they want nothing less than killing every Jew. Israel just wants to survive. As one of the videos someone posted here said, what would happen if Hamas just laid down their arms and stopped attacking Israel? There would be peace in the region. Now, what would happen if Israel just laid down their arms? There would be genocide by Hamas against the Jews. Hamas has the only power to create peace in the region and they will not do it. So if there is no peace, it is their fault, not Israel's.

[tabibito]

Appeasement is a very useful tool for promoting peace. Just look at how well it worked for Britain when they tried it with Nazi Germany.


Who was it said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it?

[Teallaura]

I'm kinda hoping he's floating this for the admin so they can find out how stupid it is before they do it...

[Zymologist]

He doesn't outrage me... he amuses me. He's like the kindly old grandfather who... well, I'll stop there.

Oh, that's good...I was worried that you were a right-wing extremist or something.

[Juvenal]

But as a president, he sucked.

You'll notice I called him my favorite ex-President. He was, in my opinion, too idealistic for the position, and it cost us as a nation. But he did accomplish one thing all of us would agree was awesome, as president. It was the topline achievement credited in his Peace Prize from 2002.

During his presidency (1977-1981), Carter's mediation was a vital contribution to the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, in itself a great enough achievement to qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Most of the major crises he oversaw afterwards were fallout from that achievement, either directly as in the oil embargo, or indirectly as in the Iranian hostage crisis. But that one achievement was the pick that cracked the ice for Israel, allowing them for the first time in their history as a modern nation to have at least one border with a country no longer at war with them. And in doing so, he created a world with at least the possibility for general peace in (pet peeve alert) what Americans call the Mideast, and nearly everyone else calls southwest Asia.

As ever, Jesse

[robrecht]

Appeasement is a very useful tool for promoting peace. Just look at how well it worked for Britain when they tried it with Nazi Germany.

Who was it said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it?

The Palestinians never accepted appeasement as a means of creating peace with the state of Israel, which was imposed on them by the United Nations. Conservatives should appreciate this about the Palestinians. I do not personally approve of terrorism, of course, but it is their means of warfare, which they choose over appeasement.

[tabibito]

The Palestinians never accepted appeasement as a means of creating peace with the state of Israel, which was imposed on them by the United Nations. Conservatives should appreciate this about the Palestinians. I do not personally approve of terrorism, of course, but it is their means of warfare, which they choose over appeasement.

And the difference is. Nazi Germany spurned the appeasement and did what they wanted to anyway.
What seems to be missing from Western World assessments is that the Arab nations have distanced themselves from Hamas.
And what is being hand-waved off, is that Egypt has closed its borders with Gaza. Traditional enemies of Israel are not backing Hamas ... that is by no means insignificant.