Jimmy Carter's 'apology'

National Catholic Reporter, March 2, 2007 by Neil Sullivan

* It sounds like selective editing to characterize Jimmy Carter's comments at Brandeis University as an apology (NCR, Feb. 9). Granted, he admitted that one of his statements in his recent book appears to condone suicide bombings until Israel accepts the ultimate goals of the Road Map. This, Carter confesses, was "worded stupidly" and would be amended in subsequent editions. But it strikes me as a stretch to headline this correction from the range of issues covered during the hourlong question-and-answer session at a university keenly interested in the Arab-Israeli struggles. Nor does it soften the headline to add he "stands [his] ground" on asserting that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is no better than apartheid. Although this characterization has drawn lightning from American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its Christian zealots, it's really nothing new. Israeli writers themselves have made this comparison for years. For the most part Americans are living in a bubble when it comes to having an honest discussion on Arab-Israeli issues. Brandeis' Catholic chaplain sounds like he's inside one himself, smoothing over Carter's harsh words as "some negative voice" that a university should be exposed to. I hope some of Carter's audience takes up his suggestion to visit the occupied territories to "determine whether I [Carter] have exaggerated or correctly described the plight of the Palestinians."

NEIL SULLIVAN

Brooklyn, N.Y.