Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, during a visit to Damascus on Tuesday, called for Israel to lift completely its blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Carter made the remarks in the forum of a delegation known as The Elders, who met with Syrian President Bashar Assad and Hamas leaders in Syria.

Please note the place of the forum: Syria, one of the world’s greatest human rights violators, noted by HRW recently for a decade of failure by Bashar Assad to improve upon his father’s record. Although, he really has improved on some things. His father murdered at least 10,000 of his own citizens in 1982. This nation, mind you, is the setting where the “Elders” (otherwise known as the Nosy and Useless Old Farts) chose to meet to discuss peace.

Carter’s best quote?

“The blockade is one of the most serious human rights violations on Earth and it must be lifted fully,” said Carter from Syria.

Sure. It’s a horrible, horrible human rights violation. Why, it’s just like Darfur, or the suppression of Chinese dissidents, or Tibet, or the lack of women’s rights throughout the Middle East (except in Israel), or the cutting off of thieves’ hands in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Yes, not allowing Hamas to freely import weapons that can murder Israelis is a terrible violation of their human rights.

Second-best quote?

“We believe that Hamas should be included in all the major efforts to peace … It is part of the Palestinian people,” Carter said. He added that “1.5 million Palestinians are held in a cage or prison while their human rights are taken away.”

The Gazans are now exporting goods to Egypt. Yeah, that blockade is just keeping them in cages. And for no reason whatsoever. It’s not like there are kassams and mortars fired regularly out of Gaza by Hamas and Hamas-affiliated terrorists. Oh. Wait. Mary Robinson is concerned about Hamas’ violation of human rights.

“In our meetings with the authorities we raised issues of human rights violations that were reported to us. Mr Haniyeh said that if they were provided with specific allegations, they would investigate and report the outcome to us. He also said that any mistakes would be corrected.”

I’m thinking the name “Gilad Shalit” never occurred in that conversation. But hey. Who cares about a single Israeli soldier kept in complete isolation for years when 1.5 million Gazans can’t come and go freely into Egypt and Israel? It’s a matter of scale, don’t you see? Rockets? Mortars? They’ll just magically stop when Israel opens the borders. Because in the world of the Nosy and Useless Old Farts Elders, the rockets don’t exist. Only Israeli “human rights” violations.

Carter’s interest in the conflict is in one sense natural: the agreement he mediated between Israel and Egypt at Camp David in 1978 stands as one of the few solid achievements of his presidency. Yet the intensity of his rhetoric suggests that his absorption with this issue derives from something deeper than the pleasure of returning to the scene of past triumphs.

Generally, the Camp David treaty is considered the major accomplishment of Carter’s term in office. Yet, as Jason Maoz recounts, the impetus for Sadat going to the Jerusalem was a miscalculation by Carter.

Standing out among Carter’s flubs was his decision to issue a joint statement on the Middle East with the Soviet Union. This totally unexpected document, released on October 1, 1977, marked the first time the U.S. officially employed the phrase “legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

The communiqué also recommended the conveying of an Arab-Israel peace conference in Geneva, with the participation of Palestinian representatives and with the Americans and the Soviets acting as joint guarantors of any agreement that might be reached.

Reaction in the U.S. was immediate – and furious. “[A] political firestorm erupted,” wrote Middle East expert Steven Spiegel. “After American officials had worked successfully for years to reduce Russian influence over the Mideast peace process and in the area as whole, critics could not understand why the administration had suddenly invited Moscow to return.”

If there was anyone more incensed at Carter than the Israelis and most American lawmakers, it was Anwar Sadat. It had been just five years since the Egyptian leader stunned the world by unceremoniously expelling thousands of Soviet military advisers and their families from Egypt, his most concrete signal to date of his desire to align his country with the West.

Yet Carter ignored Sadat’s break with Moscow. A number of other factors came into play and …

Eventually, of course, the U.S. would broker what became known as the Camp David accords and oversee the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. But Carter had been blindsided by Sadat, with the compliance of Begin, in response to the American president’s inexplicable decision to involve the Soviets in the peace process.

Well once again, as Barry Rubin writes, the Russians are getting involved in the Middle East.

Russia’s bid for renewed power in the Middle East as a rival to U.S. goals and interests is one more thing that U.S. policy is simply not prepared to cope with, or even recognize. Will Russia align itself to a large extent with Iran and Syria to counter U.S. influence in the region and give itself special access to key trading partners? For if Moscow teams up with the radical Islamist alliance, especially after Tehran has nuclear weapons, this is going to worsen considerably an already gloomy strategic picture for the West.

But on top of all that, Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavrov made an incredible statement that should send shock waves through U.S. policymaking circles. In calling on the United States not to take “any unilateral step against Iran,” Lavrov is trying to restrict American pressures to what Moscow is willing to accept. In other words, he is acting as Iran’s lawyer to tie America’s hands.

This isn’t the same as inviting the Russians in, however the Obama adminstration hasn’t complained as the Russians have been expanding their influence in the Middle East and allying itself with those who are fighting American interests.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that a comparable situation exists to the one that existed in 1977, when a poorly conceived American effort convinced Egypt to make peace with Israel. Maybe the new Russian alliance will serve to move the Iraqis closer to the United States, but I don’t see how it will advance th cause of stability in the Middle East.

So in the Middle East, right now President Obama looks like Jimmy Carter, but without the stroke of good fortune.

Crossposted on Yourish.

In his JTA interview, Carter discussed “impressions” of his words:

Carter said he never meant to convey the impression that the pro-Israel lobby silenced criticism of Israel, only that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee was the “most influential lobbying group” and that presidents including himself and congresses have historically been “totally committed” to Israel’s security. He was grateful for the rise of J Street, saying that the dovish group’s views were aligned with his own.

The “impression”? Well, let’s revisit Carter’s words.

You have to remember that the major Israeli lobbies, they’re not in favor of peace. They never have professed to be. What they are in favor of is protecting the policies of whatever government is in charge in Israel. If you look at their Web sites, they make that quite clear. So they’re for Israel, they’re not for peace between Israel and its neighbors.

Caught in a lie again, Mr. Carter. And there are more.

There would be no way a member of the House or Senate in Washington could make a public statement condemning Israel or supporting the Palestinians. They would probably be threatened with being out of office the next term.

I believe the word for that is “calumny”.

When Carter atones for all of his sins, we can begin to forgive him. Merely saying the words “al het” doesn’t make this apology sincere. And I’m not the only one who isn’t buying it.

In his interview with JTA, the elder Carter acknowledged that the negative impressions about his book and book tour had ruptured his relations with the Jewish community. Jewish friends, including Atlanta Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, prominent Atlanta lawyer Miles Alexander and Stuart Eizenstat, who was Carter’s chief White House domestic policy adviser, urged him to reach out to the Jews.

He attempted to do so by arranging a talk at a synagogue or another Jewish venue, Carter told JTA, but was rebuffed.

It sounds to me like it’s an apology of expedience, nothing more. Once again: Apology not accepted. I still think Carter’s problem with Israel is that there are Jews in it.

So this is what he was apologizing for: Carter has another viciously anti-Israel op-ed in the Guardian this week, blaming Israel for the lack of negotations and holding up the Palestinian preconditions as legitimate. He also uses a few logical fallacies along the way (“Israel has long argued that it cannot negotiate with terrorists, yet has had an entire year without terrorism and still could not negotiate.”) Really? So what were those rockets, shootings, and bombs being laid along the Israeli border with Gaza? Birthday presents? The man is such a liar. As for his “Al Het,” well, the problem there is you have to sincerely atone for what you have done, and he has not done that. So once again, Jimmy, apology not accepted.

Don’t count your Shalits before they’re switched: Yeah, here goes Hamas again with another refusal to bend in any way, shape, or form. They refuse to deport their murderers. Nope. They want them where they can be positioned to murder again. Death penalty, Israel. Think about it. These guys wouldn’t be on the negotiating table if they were dead. Of course, the good news is that these murderers stay in prison. The bad news is that so does Gilad Shalit.

Egypt vs. Hamas: The grudge match! Awesome. The wall that Egypt is building on the Gaza border is really pissing off Hamas. It’s a win-win situation for Israel. Too bad they didn’t build the wall the day Israel left Gaza.

1,000 to 1 odds: Gilad Shalit may actually be heading back to Israel, and convicted mass murderers will be heading to Gaza and the West Bank in return. But Hamas appears to be balking at the idea of not allowing the mass murderers in the West Bank (Israel wants them deported), where they will find it easier to go back to murdering Jews. The utter refusal of Arabs to compromise with Israel in any way, shape, or form seems to be making sure that this deal will never happen, though. And on the sidelines, a group of rabbis have drafted Halachic rules for prisoner swaps for the future. The rules will prohibit the exchange of live terrorists for dead Israelis. Good. Samir Kuntar should never have been released. Now, if only Israel will institute the death penalty for terrorist acts, these swaps would end.

Hamas condemns Egyptian Gaza wall: Hey, at least someone is condemning it. Don’t expect there to be weekly protests against it, though. Don’t expect the UN and EU to talk about how it’s an apartheid wall, yadda yadda, blah, blah, blah. Because it’s not being built by Jews.

Sweden will make you free? The Auschwitz sign was on its way to Sweden. I’m telling you, someone really has to see where Marc Garlasco was the last week or so.

Israel is killing Christmas! When you read the stories about how the separation fence is killing Christmas, refer everyone back to this interview with Mahmoud Abbas in an Arab paper, where he says this:

Let us consider Bethlehem as an example. Last year we received 1,400,000 tourists, and this year there are 2 million tourists. There are no empty beds at any hotel in the city; therefore there are preparations to introduce one thousand, perhaps two or three thousand, beds.

And what has changed in Bethlehem? Oh, that’s right. There aren’t any more terrorist attacks. Not that the MSM will acknowledge that as the real reason business has picked up there.

The freeze construction meme continues: And once again, the Arabs say that Israel must freeze all construction—of course, that includes in towns that will never be a part of the Palestinian state, such as Ma’ale Adumim—before any move will be made from the Arab side. Because so many moves have been made since 1967.

Elliott Abrams bitchslaps Jimmy Carter: I know Soccer Dad posted on it, but I can’t resist adding it to Snark News Briefs. Now this is a put-down.

The Obama speech: Get over it, people. So Obama’s going to give a speech to schoolchildren. Um. Have you forgotten how bored you were by long speeches? Please. This is not indoctrination. This is the president doing his job, which is to inspire children to work harder. Tempest in a teapot. He’s the president. He should be allowed to make speeches to students, and this sets a terrible precedent for all future presidents.

Hamas’ senior political leader Khaled Mashaal said on Thursday that his organization is willing to cooperate with any international effort to end the occupation but would never accept the notion of a demilitarized Palestinian state.

“The Palestinian people reject the Israeli position on a demilitarized state, on the refugees, on Jerusalem, and on the Jewish state,” the exiled Mashaal said in Damascus, referring to Israel’s demand any future Palestinian state recognize it as a Jewish nation.

So, what part of “no” don’t you understand? Because he elaborates even more:

“A demilitarized state is a pathetic state, not a serious national entity. The Palestinians will not accept Jerusalem as a unified city under Jewish control,” said Mashaal, adding that the Palestinians were dedicated to returning the refugees to their homes. Recognizing Israel as a Jewish state “would erase the right of return to lands taken in 1948.”

Meantime, the race to include Hamas as a serious negotiating partner continues. And the idiocy of Jimmy Carter? Well, that’s in plain view for all to see:

I have urged Hamas leaders to accept these conditions, and they have made statements and taken actions that suggest they are ready to join the peace process and move toward the creation of an independent and just Palestinian state.

Khaled Mashaal has assured me that Hamas will accept a final status agreement negotiated by the Palestinian Authority and Israel if the Palestinian people approve it in a referendum. Hamas has offered a reciprocal ceasefire with Israel throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Unfortunately, neither the Israeli leaders nor Hamas accept the terms of the Oslo Agreement of 1993, but the Arab Peace Initiative is being considered now by all sides.

Sure. One more time, Khaled:

“The Palestinian people reject the Israeli position on a demilitarized state, on the refugees, on Jerusalem, and on the Jewish state,” the exiled Mashaal said in Damascus.

Yeah, there’s a negotiating partner, right there.

So much of the essay is self promotion, it’s hard to know to what to take seriously. Quoting Richard Falk – I’m sorry, the Rapparteur – on the subject of the Arab Israeli conflict is hardly convincing, as Falk is exceedingly anti-Israel. (Yes, he’s an antisemite too, even if he’s Jewish.) It’s appears that he got most of his information from Hamas, which he accepted uncritically.

But this paragraph really sticks out:

We were unable to confirm this in Jerusalem because of Israel’s unwillingness to admit to any negotiations with Hamas, but rocket firing was soon stopped and there was an increase in supplies of food, water, medicine and fuel. Yet the increase was to an average of about 20 percent of normal levels. And this fragile truce was partially broken on Nov. 4, when Israel launched an attack in Gaza to destroy a defensive tunnel being dug by Hamas inside the wall that encloses Gaza.

“Defensive tunnel.” How in H*** does he know? Because Khaled Meshaal told him? I’m also not certain why Hamas would be building a defensive tunnel, towards Israel. The only thing that makes sense, is that the tunnel was being built as a means to attack Israel and carry out an attack similar to the one Hamas did to capture Gilad Shalit in 2006.

Finally here’s the brief bio at the end of the op-ed:

The writer was president from 1977 to 1981. He founded the Carter Center, a nongovernmental organization advancing peace and health worldwide, in 1982.

Sounds great. But what about the book he wrote comparing Israel to apartheid era South Africa? Isn’t that important to know, when considering the credibility of Carter’s claims?

Jimmy Carter, terrorist tool.

Maybe instead of defending terror he should go back to building houses. That way no one gets harmed. Then again, maybe not.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

A lock of the guard’s hair turned white and his teeth began to chatter. “The Todal looks like a blob of glub,” he said. “It makes a sound like rabbits screaming, and smells of old, unopened rooms. It’s waiting for the Duke to fail in some endeavor.It’s an agent of the devil, sent to punish evil-doers for having done less evil than they should.”

Apparently, Jimmy just didn’t measure up.

And while ex-President Jimmy didn’t do evil as much as enable evil, his record as an enabler is actually quite impressive.

One of the worst of his clients has been Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.

Messrs. Carter and Young would only countenance a settlement in which Mr. Mugabe, a Marxist who had repeatedly made clear his intention to turn Zimbabwe into a one-party state, played a leading role. Mr. Young, displaying the willful naivet� that came to characterize Mr. Carter’s mindset, told the London Times that Mr. Mugabe was a “very gentle man” whom he “can’t imagine � ever pulling the trigger on a gun to kill anyone.”

Mr. Mugabe already had pulled the trigger on many innocent people, though. And not long after taking power in 1980, he killed about 25,000 people belonging to a minority tribe, the Ndebele. In spite of this, in 1989, Mr. Carter launched his “Project Africa” in Zimbabwe, a program aimed at helping African countries maintain food sustainability.

Mugabe’s latest accomplishment to make the news is a cholera outbreak.

“No matter how much medicine they bring, they are not going to contain this cholera, because they are treating the symptoms rather than the disease,” says Tongesai, a well-educated man in his mid-30s whose younger brother was admitted earlier in the day. “The cholera is coming from the water, which is contaminated. It is not the boreholes that are bringing in the contaminated water, but the water from the city. That water is now getting to the people without being treated, and that is how people get cholera. It is tantamount to drinking raw sewage.” And this is why Mugabe’s government bears ultimate responsibility for the suffering of its people.

Regardless of his record of supporting all manners of tyrants, the Washington Post published an op-ed by the ex-President yesterday in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Remarkably there’s nothing in Carter’s op-ed about Zimbabwe. Of course, sharp guy that he is, Carter recognizes the central problem of America’s image regarding human rights:

Throughout the Middle East, there is hope that the United States will move more aggressively and persistently to help orchestrate a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the prism through which the region measures the U.S. commitment to human rights.

So if the United States pressures Israel to cede more land to create a state that denies its people freedom of the press, and due process and incites against Israel America’s human rights image will improve.

I can’t complain too much about the Washington Post’s decision to give Jimmy op-ed space, after all he isn’t the head of a terrorist organization. Still maybe it would have been better to have him right about something he knows, like building homes for the poor instead of something he’s been so miserable at promoting.

I would point out that Carter isn’t the only one with a blindness about human rights, especially in the Middle East. Yet his hypocrisy of claiming to champion them while giving support to the worst abusers of human rights is especially extreme.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

Captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit has still not written the letter Hamas promised would be given to his family, Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of Hamas’s political bureau, was quoted as saying Sunday by Qatari newspaper A-Sharq.

Some six weeks ago, former US president Jimmy Carter brokered a Hamas pledge to send a letter from Schalit to his parents in a meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Damascus.

Yeah, it’s hard to write if you’re dead. We have seen no proof of life from any of the captives of 2006. Until we do, I’m assuming the worst—which is one reason why I oppose an exchange of prisoners. Not without proof of life.

Chalk up another “victory” for the expert negotiator—the one who stopped North Korea from developing nuclear weapons—oh, wait. The one who oversaw “free and fair” elections in Venezuela—oh, wait. The one who helped Robert Mugabe come to power in Zimbabwe—oh, wait.

I guess the best news here is that Israel basically ignores Carter.