Informant38

Last Word: Jimmy Carter

Why do you think you're under attack for the book and the title?

You and I both know the powerful influence of AIPAC [the American Israel Public Affairs Committee], which is not designed to promote peace. I'm not criticizing them, they have a perfect right to lobby, but their purpose in life is to protect and defend the policies of the Israeli government and to make sure those policies are approved in the United States and in our Congress - and they're very effective at it. I have known a large number of Jewish organizations in this country [that] have expressed their approval for the book and are trying to promote peace. But their voices are divided and they're relatively reluctant to speak out publicly. And any member of Congress who's looking to be re-elected couldn't possibly say that they would take a balanced position between Israel and the Palestinians, or that they would insist on Israel withdrawing to international borders, or that they would dedicate themselves to protect human rights of Palestinians - it's very likely that they would not be re-elected.

In some of your interviews you've said that this is a debate that's out in the open in Israel, and it's only here that we feel inhibited.

Oh yes - that's correct. Not only in Israel - all over Israel, the major news media, every day - [but] obviously in the Arab world, even in Europe. In this country, any sort of debate back and forth, any sort of incisive editorial comment in the major newspapers, is almost completely absent.

James Earl Carter interview in Newsweek Int'l/MSNBC
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Why is there more debate in Israel - and the rest of the world - about the Israeli government's sadistic treatment of Palestine and Palestinians?
Because it's more important that Americans remain in the dark about that treatment than if Israel and the rest of the world does.
Why is that more important?
Because Americans are the ones paying for it.