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Last update - 00:00 12/11/2008
Carter: Obama will waste no time pursuing Middle East peace
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Peace Process, Jimmy Carter 

Former United States President Jimmy Carter said in an interview with CNN this week he expected President-elect Barack Obama to waste no time pursuing Middle East peace talks once he takes office.



Carter told CNN he "thrilled" by Obama's election and praised his victory as heralding "a new approach" to the handling of the peace process.
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Carter said Obama "will not wait for even a month after he is president to start working on the peace process, where as you know, the previous two presidents waited till the least year they were in office before they began the peace process."

When asked by CNN if it would be unwise for Obama to focus on the peace process while the United States is facing an economic crisis, Carter said the process was too important to put off.

He related that when he became president, the United States was facing both an energy crisis and a troubled economy, but he still found a way to pursue peace in the Middle East.

"I think is a very important issue, I don't have any doubt in my mind that to find peace and security and human rights for the Palestinians and also for Israel would be a major factor in reducing the threat of terror," Carter told CNN.

Carter added that the failure to reach a settlement is one of the main causes of the "animosity and hatred and even violent acts against America and our allies."

Over the last year, Carter has taken on an increased role in the talks, offering to becoming a conduit between Hamas, Washington and even Israel. He has spoken out against Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip , calling it a "crime and an atrocity" on Thursday, and has blasted U.S. attempts to undermine Hamas as counterproductive.

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  • Our debt to Jimmy Carter
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      1.   Election is over and Dem`s release the nowhere to-be seen Carter? 16:15  |  very interesting 12/11/08
      2.   if Obama will take Carter`s advice 16:16  |  Arie 12/11/08
      3.   Reflecting on the Carter legacy 16:23  |  Arie 12/11/08
      4.   Carter/Obama 16:27  |  Lou Medel 12/11/08
      5.   The same damned idiot who screwed Clinton`s 16:46  |  Lynn 12/11/08
      6.   Too important? We saw the economy that Carter left us with 16:48  |  Jacob Blues 12/11/08
      7.   Carter 16:48  |  Farhad 12/11/08
      8.   For once Israel must implement International Resolutions! 16:49  |  American 12/11/08
      9.   #4 Lou Medel....If Obama takes your advice 16:50  |  Lynn 12/11/08
      10.   more bad news for israel 16:54  |  paulo2005 12/11/08
      11.   Arabs have no case as to the Land of Israel 16:55  |  Jean Van Daem 12/11/08
      12.   Arie #3 all so much, par for the course 16:56  |  examiner 12/11/08
      13.   Jimmy dreaming of his glory days 17:04  |  Mark Lincoln 12/11/08
      14.   That`s Great News. 17:10  |  Cool B 12/11/08
      15.   Bush\Rice are Pounding on Israel at this very Moment 17:11  |  Dave 12/11/08
      16.   #9 17:23  |  Sami 12/11/08
      17.   "and also for Israel" - throws in Israel as an afterthought 17:26  |  McQueen 12/11/08
      18.   "who is he" Lynn #5 17:28  |  Pit BullwithLipstick 12/11/08
      19.   Obama another anti-Semitic peanut farmer? 17:31  |  Yacov Shimpson 12/11/08
      20.   Pals have no case? Dream on, Jean Van Daem 17:34  |  newageblues 12/11/08
      21.   Israel is not even in the top 6 of Obama`s priorites .. 17:35  |  redmike 12/11/08
      22.   #19 - I thought he was a danger to Israel but 17:39  |  redmike 12/11/08
      23.   If Carters happy then I am happy 17:39  |  Natallie Durson 12/11/08
      24.   Very Predictable 17:55  |  Tod Zuckerman 12/11/08
      25.   Carter 18:09  |  Buffy 12/11/08
      26.   CARTER`S DESIRES 18:10  |  jeremy 12/11/08
      27.   CARTER 18:11  |  DARISUH 12/11/08
      28.   Carter is correct of course 18:16  |  Chris Linthwaite 12/11/08
      29.   Carter Putting Pressure On Obama? 18:19  |  Yosemite 12/11/08
      30.   If Carters happy then I am happy 18:21  |  awbmore@ 12/11/08
      31.   Israel`s enemy Carter being thrilled bodes ill for Israel 18:22  |  Yaakov K. 12/11/08
      32.   Jacob Blues #6 18:34  |  examiner 12/11/08
      33.   Carter, Olmert views on peace are similar, but ... 18:45  |  Morris Valentine 12/11/08
      34.   jimmy "the arab"carter.... 19:11  |  oded 12/11/08
      35.   #33 19:12  |  Lilly 12/11/08
      36.   Mr.Obama and the Middle East. 19:19  |  Stephen. 12/11/08
      37.   Jimmy Carter,too decent of a human being for the Democratic party 19:26  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/11/08
      38.   It didn`t take very long before Carter emerges from behin Obama 19:29  |  Moshe 12/11/08
      39.   Um Buffy, not to nitpick, but boy did you trip on the names 19:36  |  Jacob Blues 12/11/08
      40.   Oh poor Dino, he pines for Carter`s speech 19:40  |  Jacob Blues 12/11/08
      41.   Bold Talk 19:57  |  Jack Olson 12/11/08
      42.   carters words mean nothing 19:57  |  real vision 12/11/08
      43.   Pitbullwithlipstick...oh please! 20:06  |  Lynn 12/11/08
      44.   Watch out 20:13  |  Watchful 12/11/08
      45.   #6 ? ...suffering from amnesia?? 20:14  |  US Observer 12/11/08
      46.   The REAL jimmy carter 20:15  |  Truth and Justice 12/11/08
      47.   # 40 Jacob Blues and the "original sin"..... 20:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/11/08
      48.   Carter a war criminal for extreme right dictators in Latin Americ 20:31  |  Alain 12/11/08
      49.   Carter was the most incompetent President ever 20:41  |  Realist 12/11/08
      50.   #45 Obsever...about as good as Millard Fillmore 21:36  |  Lynn 12/11/08
      51.   although it was nixon who finally got us out of veitnam 21:41  |  it was carter 12/11/08
      52.   #47 Swiss...Carter`s original sin 21:47  |  Lynn 12/11/08
      53.   Carter is a great humanatarian 21:52  |  zio`s hate him 12/11/08
      54.   #41 Ouch Jack, ouch! 21:53  |  ballistic 12/11/08
      55.   Jimmy`s shimmy P1 21:55  |  TonyL 12/11/08
      56.   #5 Say Cupcake, you despise anybody 21:58  |  ballistic 12/11/08
      57.   JIMMY HAMAS CARTER 22:04  |  Dale 12/11/08
      58.   #49 Realist 22:09  |  Cool B 12/11/08
      59.   #50 Ballistic Re lynn and her hidden racism 22:47  |  Labhras 12/11/08
      60.   Carter,peanuts and Obama 22:50  |  Connie 12/11/08
      61.   Jimmy`s shimmy P2 23:01  |  TonyL 12/11/08
      62.   Middle East conflict Dino? 23:03  |  Jacob Blues 12/11/08
      63.   the peanut king and insanity a fine combo 23:04  |  victor hardman 12/11/08
      64.   The Choice is clear: Vote Likud for an Independant Israel. 23:06  |  El 12/11/08
      65.   Lynn #43 ....oh dear! 23:24  |  Pit BullwithLipstick 12/11/08
      66.   #5 Lynn. What`s up sore loser? 23:40  |  Maureen Ann 12/11/08
      67.   Lynn #9 ....Oh Please! 00:01  |  Roo 13/11/08
      68.   Realist a fantasist #49 00:05  |  raul gilberto 13/11/08
      69.   Obama vs Carter 00:08  |  Brod 13/11/08
      70.   US Observer #45 Carter intelligent? Definitely-Humane? well .... 00:22  |  examiner 13/11/08
      71.   To realist (#49) 00:51  |  Morris Valentine 13/11/08
      72.   Jack Olson 00:56  |  Connie 13/11/08
      73.   #55 Well if it isn`t Connie, still sulking! 00:59  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      74.   #59 Eli, vote Likud and find yourself 01:00  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      75.   Because of Carter ...... 01:07  |  Pepe 13/11/08
      76.   #54 Labhras con`t 01:19  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      77.   Lynn #9 ....Oh Please! 01:20  |  Roo 13/11/08
      78.   Realist a fantasist #49 01:21  |  raul gilberto 13/11/08
      79.   TonyL is your hatred that brittle? 01:32  |  BBSNews 13/11/08
      80.   #66 Say Connie, selling propaganda again? 01:41  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      81.   # 5, LYNN 01:43  |  indrajaya 13/11/08
      82.   Recent insults of Jewish people and Israel by Carter 02:01  |  17 13/11/08
      83.   Carter 02:10  |  A. J. Myers 13/11/08
      84.   #72 Indy........Yes, I really do 02:32  |  Lynn 13/11/08
      85.   BBSNews 03:06  |  TonyL 13/11/08
      86.   #54 Labhras 04:28  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      87.   Not a moment to spare 05:37  |  Amerijew 13/11/08
      88.   @80 Inrayaja Carter goes with the flow 05:43  |  Big Sur 13/11/08
      89.   TonyL, are you huffing toluene? 05:55  |  BBSNews 13/11/08
      90.   Again, grow up 17... Carter is a legend. 06:01  |  BBSNews 13/11/08
      91.   Democrats kept Pres.Carter quiet during the campaign 06:27  |  PETER SM 13/11/08
      92.   BBS Legend? peace came because Egypt accepted Israels 07:12  |  PETER SM 13/11/08
      93.   BBSNews 07:32  |  TonyL 13/11/08
      94.   Carter - A Good Decent Man 08:11  |  Bill 13/11/08
      95.   As per normal Carter speaks of what he knows not 08:25  |  Ilan 13/11/08
      96.   Why does Carter never talk about a Kurdish state 08:26  |  Ken Jurist 13/11/08
      97.   BBS"Legend"? Peace came because Egypt accepted Israels 09:32  |  PETER SM 13/11/08
      98.   I THANK CARTER FOR HIS SERVICE FOR HUMANITY 10:09  |  indrajaya 13/11/08
      99.   Pres Carter has disqualified himself as a spokesperson except for 10:11  |  PETER SM 13/11/08
      100.   Carter deluded: any leader tackles home problems first 10:14  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/11/08
      101.   # 31 maybe someday, when you grow up yaakov 10:27  |  eric 13/11/08
      102.   "IF" obama does even a little of what carter hopes for; 10:40  |  eric 13/11/08
      103.   # 52 Lynn 11:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/11/08
      104.   INDRAJAYA you forgot thank Carter for ignoring Papuans 11:38  |  PETER SM 13/11/08
      105.   Obama & Israel 11:40  |  Ralph 13/11/08
      106.   Carter : Anti-Americanism is Because of the Israeli-Arab Conflict 11:43  |  Joseph.E 13/11/08
      107.   Carter 11:43  |  Mara 13/11/08
      108.   a Mideast Peace as envisaged by the 2002 Saudi `initiative` 12:09  |  Joseph.E 13/11/08
      109.   Israel and the PA 13:03  |  Mordecai Ben Natan 13/11/08
      110.   # 104, PETER SM 13:18  |  indrajaya 13/11/08
      111.   Ex President Carter. 13:24  |  David Nigel Braham 13/11/08
      112.   Chris Linthwaite # 28 Impose A Solution? 13:32  |  Jeff Northridge 13/11/08
      113.   # 90 BBSNews - Just unrelated propaganda 13:52  |  17 13/11/08
      114.   I agree with Carter 13:55  |  Edith 13/11/08
      115.   Carter a fool 14:01  |  Dr Eric 13/11/08
      116.   #7 Farhad 14:03  |  Edith 13/11/08
      117.   #12 I agree with Examiner 14:11  |  Edith 13/11/08
      118.   Swiss (Dino) # 103 So Canonize Him 14:18  |  Jeff Northridge 13/11/08
      119.   American Jews deserved Obama but Israelis? 14:21  |  Sam 13/11/08
      120.   exactly what we need in the region 14:24  |  Charles 13/11/08
      121.   Mendacious Margie in Tel Aviv#100 15:08  |  Roo 13/11/08
      122.   Carter Administration still the most incompetent 15:10  |  Realist 13/11/08
      123.   #88 Big Sur..Carter Dreams..While USA Burns. 15:40  |  Kathy 13/11/08
      124.   Jimmy Carter and Barak Obama 16:01  |  Maurice 13/11/08
      125.   Carter waists no time in opening his loud mouth... 16:08  |  Casper 13/11/08
      126.   Jimmy should change his name to "James" 16:44  |  PL 13/11/08
      127.   Fear of truth Mr. Carter 16:54  |  David 13/11/08
      128.   that`s right;obama hussein will get right to dividing Jerusalem 17:07  |  glenna 13/11/08
      129.   Carter the worst president in the history of the U.S 17:29  |  Jimmy 13/11/08
      130.   Carter 17:47  |  U.S. Citizen 13/11/08
      131.   Hi Eric 17:59  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      132.   Great to hear that Obama does what Carter says 18:00  |  lily 13/11/08
      133.   #114 Casper 18:02  |  ballistic 13/11/08
      134.   #103 Swiss...a "heart of gold" is not a prerequisite 18:13  |  Lynn 13/11/08
      135.   #83 A J Meyers...I think you are so right 18:25  |  Lynn 13/11/08
      136.   Carter`s misguided conclusion 18:34  |  Sam 13/11/08
      137.   More Good News 18:34  |  Gray 13/11/08
      138.   Barak Hussein Obama will bring peace to the region 18:38  |  PEACE MAN 13/11/08
      139.   who cares what that peanut "nut" farmer has to say;he had the US 18:47  |  glenna 13/11/08
      140.   If only Israel had more enemies like Carter. The current Israeli 18:49  |  Jozef 13/11/08
      141.   No, Joseph E.; Actual Americans Know Better 19:02  |  Gray 13/11/08
      142.   Unlike Carter, Obama Could Multi-task 19:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/08
      143.   OBAMA = TODAYS AMERICAN NEW TACTIC. 19:17  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 13/11/08
      144.   ballistic and Carter... 19:21  |  Casper 13/11/08
      145.   Jimmy Carter:Every USA hater`s favorite American 19:34  |  Alan 13/11/08
      146.   Ballistic, re: carter; why zionist hate him 19:47  |  American in NY 13/11/08
      147.   Domestic Issues & Foreign policy 20:49  |  Jim 13/11/08
      148.   Middle East Peace 21:01  |  puzzled 13/11/08
      149.   Obama, stay out of our business 21:05  |  Frank 13/11/08
      150.   Carter`s idea 21:22  |  Nechama 13/11/08
      151.   Alan from N.Y. Speaking of miserable leaders 21:24  |  Gray 13/11/08
      152.   It`s all up to Israel 21:58  |  Tuomas 13/11/08
      153.   to #7 22:02  |  Jake 13/11/08
      154.   re 103 Heart of gold is not a barometer of a good person. 22:13  |  alan the real one 13/11/08
      155.   Obama treating Carter like he did Rev. Wright 22:37  |  Jacob Blues 13/11/08
      156.   carters legacy 22:49  |  zechariah 13/11/08
      157.   carter obama 22:52  |  middeleast 13/11/08
      158.   Hilarious, all those misocarters here on Talkback 23:39  |  Ben Alofs 13/11/08
      159.   Israelis: do not fool yourself ! 23:50  |  American 13/11/08
      160.   Obama is too smart 23:52  |  Daniel 13/11/08
      161.   INDRAJAYA You are opressing Papuans & Pres. Carter ignores it 00:36  |  PETER SM 14/11/08
      162.   Carter Happy Obama Will Replace Him As Worst President 00:40  |  Wally 14/11/08
      163.   #117 lily....must be those really important 01:18  |  Lynn 14/11/08
      164.   Joseph E. Looking For Despicable Leaders? 01:22  |  Gray 14/11/08
      165.   Joseph E.:Saudi Lobbies Need to Learn From the Pros 01:31  |  Gray 14/11/08
      166.   NO B. Aloffs,it was clear Arafat was no Sadat.Robert Fisk called 02:01  |  PETER SM 14/11/08
      167.   Very well put Ben Alofs, these Carter bashers have no idea... 02:12  |  BBSNews 14/11/08
      168.   Peter SM ; Please respond, again 02:44  |  Gray 14/11/08
      169.   Peter SM ; Please respond, again 02:44  |  Gray 14/11/08
      170.   #120 Alan ....and he sabotaged Clinton`s 02:52  |  Lynn 14/11/08
      171.   #132 Ben Alofs 03:09  |  Not Quite 14/11/08
      172.   # 136, WALLY 03:14  |  indrajaya 14/11/08
      173.   #6 Jacob Blues 03:17  |  warren 14/11/08
      174.   GRAY.I do not use the term "gotcha"Who are you confusing me with? 03:35  |  PETER SM 14/11/08
      175.   #122 American in NY 03:37  |  ballistic 14/11/08
      176.   #125 Say Frank in Israel 03:41  |  ballistic 14/11/08
      177.   Obama Rhires Malley 04:13  |  Eve 14/11/08
      178.   #131 American in NY...actually no, 04:54  |  Lynn 14/11/08
      179.   #140 Jacob Blues....I hear Hillary is up for 04:56  |  Lynn 14/11/08
      180.   #17.."throws in Israel as an afterthought" 05:10  |  Jeff 14/11/08
      181.   No worries mate ... 05:23  |  spyguy 14/11/08
      182.   gray 153 & 154 05:41  |  strange 14/11/08
      183.   # 156 mistakenly gives praise to clinton 05:43  |  Jeff 14/11/08
      184.   gray 05:45  |  strange 14/11/08
      185.   lynn no. 9 06:03  |  adas 14/11/08
      186.   carter didn`t bring sadat and begin together.. 06:07  |  strange 14/11/08
      187.   The three nots 06:10  |  David Zukerman 14/11/08
      188.   # 155, LYNN 06:44  |  indrajaya 14/11/08
      189.   Not Worth Wasting Time On 07:12  |  UsedToPostHere 14/11/08
      190.   Carter:Obama will waste no time pursuing M.E. peace 07:14  |  martin list, m.d. 14/11/08
      191.   You don`t get it indrajaya, Carter was bad for a host of reasons 07:48  |  Jacob Blues 14/11/08
      192.   #164 Cupcake Lynn, Carter clearly 08:07  |  ballistic 14/11/08
      193.   Obama won`t waste his time 08:08  |  B (The other one) 14/11/08
      194.   # 117 to ballistic re: things 08:44  |  eric 14/11/08
      195.   A just peace 11:32  |  Josh 14/11/08
      196.   Lynn #156 Wrong about `Clinton-Carter-Korea`. 12:19  |  examiner 14/11/08
      197.   #176 Hey Eric, my man!! 18:03  |  ballistic 14/11/08
      198.   Peter SM; Still, Not an answer, not surprising 21:24  |  Gray 14/11/08
      199.   President Carter 22:55  |  Anthony 14/11/08
      200.   [examiner,Lynn] CARTER / Nukes, obama / ISRAEL 01:46  |  Jeff 15/11/08
      201.   Mr examiner, Lynn - - ISRAEL / obama / N Korea 02:03  |  Jeff 15/11/08
      202.   One can only hope Obama listens to Carter. 03:27  |  real_democrat 15/11/08
      203.   Jeff in Houston 17:27  |  examiner 15/11/08
      204.   Jeff in Houston 18:40  |  examiner 15/11/08
      205.   #199 hey anthony,we do not tremble..WE LAUGH!!,AT HIM.KNOWN AS 19:32  |  KATHY 15/11/08
      206.   EXAMINER...Obama / delusional liberals 02:08  |  Jeff 16/11/08
      207.   Kathy 08:07  |  Anthony 16/11/08
      208.   Reality 18:04  |  Feigele 25/12/08
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