President Carter’s Al Het
President Carter sent a message to the Jewish community through JTA. We briefed it, but here it is in its entirety (transliterations intact):
An open letter to the Jewish community at the season of Chanukah from former President Jimmy Carter:
The time of Chanukah and the Christian holidays presents an occasion for reflection on the past and for looking to the future. In that vein, I wish to share some thoughts with you about the State of Israel and the Middle East.
I have the hope and a prayer that the State of Israel will flourish as a Jewish state within secure and recognized borders in peaceful co-existence with its neighbors and with all the Moslem States, and that this peaceful co-existence will bring security, prosperity and happiness to the people of Israel and to the people of the Middle East of all faiths.
I have the hope and a prayer that the bloodshed and hatred will change to mutual respect and cooperation, fulfilling the prophetic aspiration that the lion shall lie down with the lamb in harmony and peace. I likewise hope that violent attacks against all civilians will end, which will help set a better framework for commencing negotiations. I further hope that peace negotiations can soon commence, with all issues on the negotiating table.
I have the hope and a prayer that just as Chanukah is the Festival of Lights, the State of Israel will fulfill its destiny as a light unto the nations.
We must recognize Israel’s achievements under difficult circumstances, even as we strive in a positive way to help Israel continue to improve its relations with its Arab populations, but we must not permit criticisms for improvement to stigmatize Israel. As I would have noted at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, but which is appropriate at any time of the year, I offer an Al Het for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so.
May we work and pray for that better day.
Hag Semach and Happy Chanukah.
No one has gone toe to toe with Carter more than the ADL's Abe Foxman, and here's his initial reaction, from our brief:
Abraham Foxman, the Anti-Defamation League's national director, welcomed the statement, calling it the "beginning of reconciliation."
"We welcome any statement from a significant individual such as a former president who asks for Al Het," Foxman said. "To what extent it is an epiphany, time will tell. There certainly is hurt which needs to be repaired."
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Hello,
Malcolm Plutznik-We are a new political commentator team similar to the late evans and novak but we have a Jewish slant on things.
Nachum Yutznik- wasnt novak Jewish?
P-yes but he converted to catholicism after his brain started to rot
Y- you’re such a kidder
P- whose kidding?
Y-anywho I thoght we would start todays commentary by discussing Jon Pollard.
P- did I tell you the great tasting scrambled eggs I ate this morning?
Y- what does eggs have to do with pollard? are you trying to change the subject and distract me with food because of my perceived eating disorder?
P- Never! I just thought I’d talk about my breakfast. I was going to eat a bagel when my friend called and suggested that I eat eggs.
Y- who is your friend?
P- an israeli friend who is publicity shy so he just wants me to refer to him in public as meyer d
Y- is he your handler?
P-has v hillelah! He is just a friend that tells me what to think and do
Y- does he make all decisions for you
P- of course, its sooo much easier to let my friend meyer think for me than to have to think for myself, I am sure he would be willing to think for you if you want
Y-no thanks, nobody thinks for me, even me
P your such a kidder
Y whose kidding
Y anywho getting back to pollard, what have you and the israel goyerment done to get him released for the past 20 yrs.
P- listen negotiations are at a sensitive moment and anything I say may jeapordize the talks, but trust me as 1 zionist to another I guarantee pollard will be released from prison one day either vertically or horizontally but he will be released
Y- thats great news! I knew those that said you and your handlers, OOPSY I mean friends want pollard to die in prison were wrong all along.
P- Yutznik, we’re both zionists would I lie to you?
Y of course not plutznik
Y Now that we’ve solved the pollard issue, can I recommend a bottle of wine to drink for breakfast with your eggs?
P- yutznik you are really into this wine thing arent you?
Y- yes I drink wine at every meal and several times a day between meals.
P- do you think you’re becomming an alky?
Y- who cares you should see the money Im raking in with the wine commercials on my radio show and anywho if I ever need a new liver I am sure your ‘friend’ wink wink can get me a transplant.
P- lets talk about the chanukah party at the white house, I was watching you and I think you ate more soufganeoat that cong nadler, true?
Y- Yes I out ate him by 2 to 1 but 1 still lost the contest to my wife , BoomBoom who ate more than me.
P- why do you call her boom boom?
Y- because after she eats the donuts she sounds as if she has a battery of totachs coming out of her tuches, you know boom boom! Ha HA. If she didnt support me I’d dump her in a minute for an israeli chick.
P-I think its time to sign off
Y- our brothers and sisters...and handlers in israel we are with you, thats my sign off whats yours mal?
P-shalom kol yisroel and best of all hazak!
Y- doesnt someone already use that sign off?
P-yes but since nobody listend to the big dufus’s radio show I thought I’d borrow it
P-Y-Please give us feedback on this new political JTA column
How Carter Can Get Forgiveness: According to the Jewish concept of repentance, words are not enough. A change in behavior is also essential in order to receive forgiveness. And he has not done this.
http://calevbenyefuneh.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-carter-can-get-forgiveness.html#links
This apology is fraud.
The word Apartheid is connected to a governing system and has no connection to religion whether the government separates church and state, or not.
Why then does Carter use such a deep religious tone in his attempt to pacify when the damage he perpetrated had no religious connection?
A- Israel’s welfare does not interest him.
B- the path has opened for the employment of pressures on the Israeli government to inluence further restraints by US rabbis (Abraham Foxman - ADL example)
C- A religious apology appears more final, and does not call for physical backup.
And so we have been dealt with a double-triple insult:
A- The book stays on the shelves - and maybe now even sell better.
B- A new book denouncing the insulting book will not be published
C- The word Apartheid will be more connected to Israel than to South-Africa
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Jerome S.Wittik
12/21/09 07:56 PM
I am not as good as Mr. Foxman. After a book about Israel as an aparteid state and other obnoxious and totally false statements, I cannot just forgive. He is obviously totally blind to what the “poor Palestinians” are doing and 100% biased in his outlook. Sorry, Mr. Carter, an I’m sorry just doesn’t cut it. Besides, it’s the wrong season.