Gaza Blowup Could've Been Avoided: Carter

Agreement on aid crossings would've prevented recent violence

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 8, 2009 2:24 PM CST

(Newser) – The destruction being visited upon Gaza could easily have been avoided, Jimmy Carter writes in the Washington Post. The former president, during visits last year, saw both the effects of Hamas rockets on Israeli communities, and the misery and malnutrition caused by the Gaza blockade. He details his own efforts, and observes that improved living conditions in Gaza would make peace infinitely more likely.

But though the rockets stopped last summer after a deal to let in more humanitarian aid, Israel only ever allowed about 20% of normal levels of supplies through, and broke the ceasefire when it attacked Hamas tunnels in Gaza on Nov. 4. Carter pushed an extension of the ceasefire in mid-December, and Israel would only agree to allow 15% of normal supplies through—which Hamas rejected, leading to the current violence.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Former President Jimmy Carter addresses students and guests at the American University of Beirut, Dec. 12, 2008. (AP Photo)

In this Jan. 3, 2009, photo, smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on an area known to have smuggling tunnels in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt. (AP Photo)

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The hope is that Israel, Hamas and the United States will accept another cease-fire, at which time the rockets will again stop and an adequate level of humanitarian supplies will be permitted to the surviving Palestinians.
- Jimmy Carter

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

Guest

Jun 16, 2009 3:07 AM CDT

Obama, then Carter.

Guest

Jun 16, 2009 3:05 AM CDT

Carter betrayed Israel during those visits and he is a danger to the Middle East peace efforts now ith his juvenile interference. He screwed up Iran and now he wants to do the same in Israel. Some of us have never forgotten what an all time terrible President this loose cannon was. Double digit un-employment, inflation, high cost of energy, loss of our embassy in Iran. He has shamed this country and himself. -Corona_king

riffran

Jan 12, 2009 12:34 AM CST

I think he drank too much of his brothers beer...he should stick to habitat for humanity.....He is a example of the "bitter liberal syndrome"...self loathing, and unpatriotic, and angry...."those " kind give normal people who are also sometimes democrats a bad rep...and just to be fair, on a regular "joe" basis Dems and repubs arent' too much different, but when they start climbing that ole party ladder something wrong happens to them and they get all screwey in the head...lol....riff

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Gaza Blowup Could've Been Avoided: Carter