14 Carter Center Advisers Resign in Protest over New Book

[Stylerod]

14 Carter Center Advisers Resign in Protest Over Former President Jimmy Carter's New Book

Associated Press
Thursday, January 11, 2007

ATLANTA — Fourteen members of a Carter Center advisory board, who worked to build support for the human rights organization started by former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, have resigned in protest over Carter's latest book.

The resignations, announced Thursday, are the latest in a backlash against Carter's book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," which has drawn fire from Jewish groups, been attacked by fellow Democrats and led to the resignation last month of Kenneth Stein, a Carter Center fellow and a longtime Carter adviser.

In their letter of resignation, the members of the Center's Board of Councilors wrote of Carter, "you have clearly abandoned your historic role of broker in favor of becoming an advocate for one side."

The board is responsible for building public support for the Carter Center. It is not the organization's governing board. Carter Center Executive Director John Hardman said Thursday in a written statement that the board's members "are not engaged in implementing work of the Center."

Hardman offered no further comment other than thanking the resigning members for their service.

The book follows the Israeli-Palestinian peace process starting with Carter's 1977-1980 presidency and the peace accord he negotiated between Israel and Egypt. It doles out blame to Israel, the Palestinians, the United States and others, but it is most critical of Israeli policy.

The 14 members of the 200-member board said the book "portrays the conflict between Israel and her neighbors as a purely one-sided affair with Israel holding all the responsibility for resolving the conflict."

Steve Berman, an Atlanta real estate developer among those who resigned, said members were concerned by the book's "one-sided approach" and then "watched with great dismay" as Carter defended it in comments to the press, especially as he implied that Americans might be afraid to discuss the conflict in fear of a powerful Jewish lobby.

Berman said the religious affiliation of the resigning members, which include some prominent Jewish leaders in the Atlanta area, didn't influence their decision.

Carter is going to lose the one postive part of his otherwise dreadful Presidential legacy, that of a peace maker.

[Thorgrim]

He's going to lose the love and admiration of conservatives? While gaining the love of many liberals for speaking the truth? Fair trade...considering the former never existed

[RMNIXON]

What he is going to do is cash in big on all the liberals who will go and buy his book in droves!


Oh, wait he did that already!


Michael Moore stand aside! I can shamelessly misrepresent the truth for cash and far left political fame as good as anyone

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

What he is going to do is cash in big on all the liberals who will go and buy his book in droves!


Oh, wait he did that already!


Michael Moore stand aside! I can shamelessly misrepresent the truth for cash and far left political fame as good as anyone

He strongly believes in his book and so do many others, its a great work from a great perspective as former president and peace broker in the middle east

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

He strongly believes in his book and so do many others, its a great work from a great perspective as former president and peace broker in the middle east

Seems a lot of people who actually devoted part of their lives to his cause (unlike others here) don't think so and left. Shame.

[motivez]

I'd have to actually read it before I offered any criticism or praise for it. However, as I seem to remember hearing the book is fairly critical of Israel, I would expect it to ruffle some feathers, even from within his own camp.

One nice thing about a being a former President, especially one with a history in the region, is the ability to offer a candid perspective.