Editor's Note
April 25, 2008
Carter’s Hurrah?
Neil Rubin
Editor
When a former U.S. President speaks up on a high profile Israeli-Arab issue, people listen.
When it’s Jimmy Carter, engineer of the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace accord, people listen a little more closely.
But when such a respected figure defies the principles that brought him historic success nearly three decades ago –– having belligerents ready to deal directly with one another and compromise in doing so –– he must be opposed. That is because Mr. Carter’s actions have emboldened terrorists without exacting moderation in their views and, more importantly, their actions.
Thus, Israel’s leaders rightly ignored the former U.S. President last week when –– with no invitation –– he dropped by for the classic headline-making visit. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni were conveniently busy. That left Israeli President Shimon Peres, no slouch in the nuances of peacemaking, to lecture his fellow Noble Peace recipient on how the American was damaging both Israel and the peace process.
Undeterred, Mr. Carter went forward, solemnly laying a wreath at the tomb of Yasser Arafat, flashing his famous grin for Syrian President Bashar Assad and then warmly pumping the hand of Hamas’ Khaled Meshal.
It was all necessary, Mr. Carter said, as Hamas cannot be ignored in the Israeli-Palestinian orbit and thus should be brought into the peace process.
He is right that Hamas cannot be dismissed. He is wrong to think it is not being dealt with.
The problem: Nothing at this moment will bring Hamas into negotiations with Israel other than Hamas itself. It will signify its readiness when it sends positive signals to Israel, which is exactly what Anwar Sadat, King Hussein, Yasser Arafat and others have done.
That could have happened this time with a statement acknowledging a two-state solution to the conflict and the recognition of the futility of terrorism. Or it could have acted grandly in doing that while calling for a halt in missiles attacks and releasing information on Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit, their captive somewhere in Gaza.
One day Hamas and Israeli leaders may break bread. But today any public attempt to do so –– of course, lower-level private contacts are ongoing ––undermines the international effort to contain its terrorism (which can never be fully defeated, but must always be fought).
So with Mr. Carter’s self-appointed mission over, let us assess:
• Prior to the trip, rare international agreement had it that Hamas, whose raison d’etre is to destroy an entire country, was not a negotiating partner. Mr. Carter said Hamas leaders pledged not to oppose an Israeli-Palestinian accord if Palestinians approved it in a referendum. They hinted strongly that Palestinians outside the West Bank and Gaza ––more radical as they can neglect reality for rhetoric –– must vote on the matter. That offers a convenient way to reject such a pact. By the way, after Mr. Carter’s trip Hamas issued a clarification noting that a Gaza/West Bank Palestinian state would be “transitional,” meaning a stepping-stone to destroying the rest of the Jewish state.
• Prior to the trip, Syria and Israel were conducting low-level public and private negotiations. Syrian President Bashar Assad simply reiterated that he favors dialogue with Israel. Nothing new there.
• Prior to the trip, three Israeli soldiers were held by Hamas and Hezbollah –– Mr. Shalit by the former, and Ehud “Udi” Goldwasser and Eldad Regev by the latter (assuming they are alive). The Egyptians, with Israel’s full knowledge, are talking with Hamas about this (and overall security matters). Ultimately, the Israelis’ release will be linked to that of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Mr. Carter made no progress here on what by nature must be clandestine contacts.
• Prior to the trip, some Israeli “peaceniks” saw Mr. Carter as a principled man who sought to help them. If Shimon Peres now feels differently, you can bet swaths of them do, too.
Thus, Mr. Carter returns scoring a few headlines while emboldening those who would capriciously toss away Israel’s legitimate concerns. Israel left Gaza –– the right move –– to face missiles. Now Hamas must make a major move.
Was this the 83-year-old Carter’s last hurrah at Mideast peace making? One only wishes him many years to enjoy retirement’s solitudes.