Former President Jimmy Carter has just published in important new book called "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" wherein he lays out a blueprint for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. " The overriding problem is that, for more than a quarter century, the actions of some Israeli leaders have been in direct conflict with the official policies of the United States, the international community, and their own negotiated agreements.Israel's continued control and colonization of Palestinian land have been the primary obstacles to a comprehensive peace agreement in the Holy Land. In order to perpetuate the occupation, Israeli forces have deprived their unwilling subjects of basic human rights. No objective person could personally observe existing conditions in the West Bank and dispute these statements. (pp. 207-9)" He was interviewed in Forward, you can see his interview at: http://www.forward.com/articles/carter-discusses-new-book-on-israel-and-... You can order "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid" at: Powells.com (Portland's own): http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-0743285026-0 Amazon.com (via counterpunch's link) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743285026/counterpunchmaga Carter Discusses New Book on Israel and the Middle East Jennifer Siegel | Thu. Nov 16, 2006 Forward http://www.forward.com/articles/carter-discusses-new-book-on-israel-and-... President Jimmy Carter's new book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” (Simon & Schuster), hits the shelves this week. In an interview Wednesday with the Forward, the former president discussed the work and his views on the Middle East. A couple of the questions asked of Carter: Q: In response to Republican claims that the Democratic Party is weakening in its support for Israel, Democratic leaders - most prominently Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean - have recently issued statements saying that you do not represent the Democratic Party on Israel. What is your response? A: They are right. I don't speak for the Democratic Party. In fact, I don't think anybody speaks for the Democratic Party, including Howard Dean or Bill Clinton or Nancy Pelosi. The Democratic Party is an umbrella under which multiple voices exist. I would just refer to my own record as a president - I was the one who negotiated a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, not a word of which has ever been violated, and I worked throughout the entire four years to bring peace to Israel within its own borders. I don't have to explain my credentials in terms of bringing peace to Israel. Q: Do you think that most Democrats agree with your views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? A: If you talk about members of the Congress, I would say no, because the Congress members are almost universally silent as far as any criticism of anything that the Israeli government does. But I think that's an anomaly among Democrats in the entire country, and, in fact, among Americans all over. I think there's a tremendous concern that Israel has refused to accept the premise that Israel can have peace if it's willing to define its borders along the official internationally recognized line - that is, the Green Line - modified, if necessary, and I think it would be necessary, by good faith negotiations with the Palestinians on a swap basis. But Israel has not been willing to do that, and I think if Israel doesn't do it, I don't see any possibility that Israel will ever know peace, certainly not in my lifetime, if they insist on confiscation and occupation of Arab land.