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'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book By Cnaan Liphshiz, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Dutch, Holland, anti-Israel The emotion in Andreas van Agt's voice as he lambastes Israel's behavior seems puzzling for a man of his status. It's especially intriguing considering that this blue-eyed professed idealist is an astute statesman who presided as the Dutch prime minister for five years until 1982. "My involvement in the Middle East is certainly unusual," Van Agt confessed in an interview with Haaretz about Israel at his home in Nijmegen. Currently, Van Agt is writing a book about the Israeli-Arab conflict. He recently launched an info site about the subject, in which he accuses Israel of racism and violating international law. He speaks at controversial solidarity events alongside Hamas officials, lamenting the Dutch government's boycott of the Islamist organization branded by numerous governments as terrorist. He is also outspoken in accusing Israel of state-terror. "Some say my demeanor owes to my advanced age; that I'm not fully in my right mind anymore," says the 77-year-old with a snicker, sitting under an outdated portrait of the Queen in his taupe-colored den. His penchant for criticizing Israel wasn't characteristic of his premiership. "The Dutch Jimmy Carter", as local media sometimes dub him, says he became vocal much later, when his "eyes were opened" during a catholic pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I'm driven in part by my shame for not speaking up for the Palestinians when I was in power," he says. It was the story of one Palestinian university student from Bethlehem which put Van Agt on his present course, according to the ex-premier. Advertisement "It was a story of horrendous humiliation of a Palestinian trying to get to an exam. His story, which the university president told me, struck me like lightning," he recalls. According to the story, Israelis soldiers ordered the student to walk on hands and feet and bark at a roadblock. Now Van Agt maintains that the Palestinian government in Ramallah has "questionable legitimacy," and that the only legitimate and democratically-elected Palestinian leaders are in Gaza. When the subject of Hamas' level of commitment to democracy comes up - and whether the organization deserves the protection of values it doesn't honor - Van Agt acknowledges that "things could be better." He adds: "Hamas' behavior is reason for great concern, but it's ignorant to judge how Hamas is ruling without taking into account the impossible conditions in Gaza, the biggest prison in the world." The perceived failure of Israel's neighbors to observe Western standards of democracy is also a result of their conflict with Israel, according to Van Agt. "Maybe I'm a naive idealist, but I think that if Israel hadn't evolved into a disaster for its neighbors then they would behave much better," he explains. Several opinion shapers, including German journalist Henryk Broder, have accused Van Agt of anti-Semitism. People from organizations critical of Israel like "A Different Jewish Voice" and United Civilians for Peace say he's anything but anti-Semitic. He says the accusation is false, contending: "it's the most effective way of keeping countless others from following my example." His accusers, however, allege Van Agt demonstrated anti-Semitism before he became involved with the Palestinian cause. In 1972, when he was justice minister, Van Agt told a journalist: "I am only an Aryan" in speaking about his intention to bring about the release for health reasons of the last three Nazi war criminals still in Dutch prisons. "I was totally inexperienced," Van Agt says in explaining the context. "It was a very informal cocktail party. I was basically having fun with the new friends to come. Then the question came up. "I should have known it, but I was so naive then - and I made the gravest mistake. I said that even my Jewish predecessor was unsuccessful in getting them out of jail - 'and I'm only an Aryan.'" Shaking his head, Van Agt repeats the explosive word. "I was deriding myself, a style which has always characterized my presentations. But that wretched word was in the newspapers the next morning." The explanations eventually satisfied the Dutch electorate and press, Van Agt says. "I hadn't heard about it in 30 years. It resurfaced only when I started becoming critical of Israel. I am definitely not an anti-Semite," he concludes. Related articles: Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Dutch brace for new anti-Islam film directed by far-right leader Israel unfairly singled out by UN, says Dutch FM Bookmark to del.icio.us   Against his release Mother of Kuntar victim appeals to President Peres against his release. Gloom and doom How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war?

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