Pro-Israel group: Carter's apology to Jews a 'publicity stunt'

Problem was he was a lousy President, inflation, hostages and all that sort of nasy stuff Don't forget, his library was bought and paid for by donations from his Arab friends

No Roo. The Jews blamed the destruction of Solomon's Temple and the Babylonian exile on the survival up to that time of pagan elements in their religious beliefs and practices. From the 6th century BCE onwards (including the periods of the Persian, Greek and Roman empires) these pagan elements were stringently purged from Judaism. Idolatory (including the worship of any divinity in human form) was abhorred and observance of circumcision, the Sabbath, kosher food laws etc strictly enforced. The antisemitism of the pagans is well recorded in Josephus's "Against Apion" and in the works of Tacitus et al. Some pagans were drawn to the Jewish ethical tradition, but still hated Jews. Sound familiar?

No Roo. The Jews blamed the destruction of Solomon's Temple and the Babylonian exile on the survival up to that time of pagan elements in their religious beliefs and practices. From the 6th century BCE onwards (including the periods of the Persian, Greek and Roman empires) these pagan elements were stringently purged from Judaism. Idolatory (including the worship of any divinity in human form) was abhorred and observance of circumcision, the Sabbath, kosher food laws etc strictly enforced. The antisemitism of the pagans is well recorded in Josephus's "Against Apion" and in the works of Tacitus et al. Some pagans were drawn to the Jewish ethical tradition, but still hated Jews. Sound familiar?

No Roo. The Jews blamed the destruction of Solomon's Temple and the Babylonian exile on the survival up to that time of pagan elements in their religious beliefs and practices. From the 6th century BCE onwards (including the periods of the Persian, Greek and Roman empires) these pagan elements were stringently purged from Judaism. Idolatory (including the worship of any divinity in human form) was abhorred and observance of circumcision, the Sabbath, kosher food laws etc strictly enforced. The antisemitism of the pagans is well recorded in Josephus's "Against Apion" and in the works of Tacitus et al. Some pagans were drawn to the Jewish ethical tradition, but still hated Jews. Sound familiar?

Jason Carter is running for state senator, not US Senator (not clear from the article!). Georgia does in fact have a Jewish state senator. At any rate, let's see what Jimmy says and writes in the future...

Note to Jimmy Carter. Unlike you, right-wing psychopaths are incapable of decency. Don't expect it.

At my school-Brandeis, he basically refused to debate Alan Dershowitz, even though in his racist book he claims he wants to debate about Israel. Then later on he denied he even heard of a debate request. Jimmy Carter was a one-term failure. Nonetheless, he desperately wanted some kind of legacy. If he couldn't have it in America he'd be willing to do anything to get it elsewhere. Now we have see how low he's willing to go. After pilloring the Jewish community, he comes crawling back at an advantageous moment. JUST GO HOME!

many millions of his fellow Christian Zionists Your name is a fraud as is your posting.

Your hypothesis that the early Christians drew on pagan anti semitism is insubstantial and unsubstantiated. The pagan Romans were certainly not inherently anti semitic and indeed held the Judaic religion in some regard[most famously Josephus was both a highly regarded and observant Jew, serving the Roman emperor]. There were more converted Jews [from Paganism] in the Roman empire at large [including large numbers in Rome itself]than in contemporary Judea itself! What the Romans found hard to accept, was the monotheistic dogmatism of pharisaic Judaism which insisted that no other god[s] could be worshiped other than YAHWE. It was the most zealous Jews who were antagonistic toward the 'other' not the Romans, who were far more ambivalent toward other religions and cultures. As for the pre Greco-Roman period, Israelites themselves were practicing a syncretic form of religion, incorporating the longstanding pagan traditions alongside the worship of YAHWE. This was the norm throughout the so called biblical era right up to Roman times. This is borne out both by the constant exhortations in the biblical texts themselves for Jews to give up their foreign gods[the Torah and Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, et al] and thence their foreign wives [Ezra, Nehemia], and also the archaeological record even in Jerusalem itself of the commonplace existence of asherah alongside menorah in Israelite homes throughout antiquity. So pagan and Judaic were never separate in the old religion, until the much later Roman era and in the pre Christian Roman era the Romans themselves were not inimical to the worship of YAHWE or practice of Judaism itself any more than were the Persian rulers who presided over the rebuilding of the Temple, just so long as messianistic and liberating fervor was not the product of such worship.

Antisemitism is an ancient prejudice of the pre-Christian pagan world that was imported into Christianity in the first century, especially after the destruction of Christianity?s mother church in Jerusalem. When the Romans utterly destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Temple of the Jewish people in the year 70 CE, the Jerusalem church ceased to function. Most of what remained of the Jesus movement were the satellite church communities that had been established by Paul outside Israel. Those who wrote the Gospels, many decades after the crucifixion of Jesus, were former pagans from the satellite communities, not the Jewish apostles. Despite the fact that Jesus said "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17), these satellite communities from their very beginnings steadily abandoned Jewish laws and introduced many of their pre-Christian pagan customs and ideas into Christian practice and belief - including antisemitism.

Carter was hardly a hero with Begin and Sadat. Sadat clearly was a hero for peace and he paid the ultimate price. Begin took a big political risk. Carter? All he had to do was help facilitate a process that was already in motion.

Antisemitism is an ancient prejudice of the pre-Christian pagan world that was imported into Christianity in the first century, especially after the destruction of Christianity?s mother church in Jerusalem. When the Romans utterly destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Temple of the Jewish people in the year 70 CE, the Jerusalem church ceased to function. Most of what remained of the Jesus movement were the satellite church communities that had been established by Paul outside Israel. Those who wrote the Gospels, many decades after the crucifixion of Jesus, were former pagans from the satellite communities, not the Jewish apostles. Despite the fact that Jesus said "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17), these satellite communities from their very beginnings steadily abandoned Jewish laws and introduced many of their pre-Christian pagan customs and ideas into Christian practice and belief - including antisemitism.

The worse thing you can when you've told the truth is to apologize. Once you do that, they'll come after you tooth and claw.

Antisemitism is an ancient prejudice of the pre-Christian pagan world that was imported into Christianity in the first century, especially after the destruction of Christianity?s mother church in Jerusalem. When the Romans utterly destroyed Jerusalem and the Holy Temple of the Jewish people in the year 70 CE, the Jerusalem church ceased to function. All that remained of Christianity were the satellite church communities that had been established by Paul outside Israel. Those who wrote the Gospels, many decades after the crucifixion of Jesus, were former pagans from the satellite communities, not the Jewish apostles. Despite the fact that Jesus said "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil" (Matthew 5:17), these satellite communities from their very beginnings steadily abandoned Jewish laws and introduced many of their pre-Christian pagan customs and ideas into Christian practice and belief - including antisemitism.

so pathetic!

He has already done do much damage. So much damage that is completely irreperable. " The crisis between Carter and the Jewish community came to a head three years ago with the publication of his book Palestine: Peace, not apartheid. After the book was published, 14 Jews resigned from the Carter Center. His recent visit to Gaza and his meetings with Hamas leaders coupled with his apathetic tone during a meeting with the father of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, all have made Carter unwelcome in synagogues." Why the change of heart? Why now? Very very suspicious.

I am old enough to remember his tenure as President and all his subsequent acts. He and his word are not worth even a fake 3-dollar bill.

Now the Jews can say. "Yes Mr. Carter we forgive you"; but can you ever again be a force of unbias opinion for justice toward peace between Israel and the Palestinians? Frankly, I think not. You have made up your mind that Isreal has had a Apartheid system toward the Palestinian people, and as far as I know you haven't disappoved your remarks one way or another. The best thing for you to do going forward is to recognize that you were wrong and unless you can come to the table with unbias perceptions or wronheaded motives you had better present all facts to the story in its context and the reasons for them.

Neither Chambliss or Isakson is Jewish.

Of course it was a publicity stunt. Carter has nothing to apologize for in telling the truth, which too many people are afraid to do!!

No Jews here in North America are buying his apology either. Carter did some serious damage to Jewish-Diaspora relations. It'll take more than an apology to rectify his transgression.

Carter has some standing because he is a former president. The timing of his "apology" is suspicious because it comes right before his grandson's election. American Jews vote Democrat, have no fear about Jason's loss of the Jewish vote in Georgia. I suspect that he has no qualification, at age 34, to be a senator, but his last name is Carter. Carter is no friend of the Israelis.

He needs to write several books in support of Israel, denounce hamas and hezbollah. So far his apology seems to have gotten little more than 3rd page small print news. And, then where are the speaking tours on college campuses that are in support of Israel.

No US President should apologize to Israel. Ever. The very bread on the Israelis table is provided by the US taxpayer and Israel is no more relevant after the demise of the USSR. We are doing so at the expense of our relations with a billion Muslims. Enough is enough. Blind political support should cease immediately as well all these billions of US dollars which we cannot afford anymore.

continuing interest in resolving the Middle East conflict and the book itself, which I've read and recommended by my father, who had followed the developments within the Middle East for decades, has provided a comprehensive background analysis of events leading up to the current impasse. Everyone has their own perspective of the Middle Eastern dispute and we only learn when we listen to the viewpoints of others which may differ from our own beliefs. President Carter did explain that the book's aim was to facilitate discussion and debate as is the objective of Haaretz Talkback.

Nothing that Carter could say or do would convince me of his sincerity. Carter's writings, remarks, actions during the years have not been from a friend or even a supporter of the Jews and Israel, rather they have been seeped in anti-Semitic declarations and actions. I would never trust anything that Carter says.

Carter has nothing to apologize about. Sadly, he simply told the truth. I have no idea why he "apologized" and to american Jews at that. What have they got to do with this to begin with?

He apologizes for his political views? Rubbish, come on Carter , don`t regret us buying your books.

I've not been a fan of his in the past, but hey give the man a chance. If he backs up his words with deeds, well then that ought to demonstrate sincerity. What's in a man's heart? Who knows. What does it matter? Give a guy a break.

Carter is in need of Jewish votes for his son, his apology by no surprise comes right before elections time...

I too am no fan of President Carter, but what the hell. It appears that virtually everything today is seemed a publicity stunt. This story as well.

It's far more annoying to have Carter apologize. There is just no pleasing some people.

From what I've seen and heard in the papers and on the radio -- except to its credit the NY Times -- the story is a short blurb that gives the impression that Carter was simply apologizing to the Jewish community. No mention of his apology for "stigmatizing Israel."

Sadat and and Begin also heroes! You have to give them credit. Lay off of Carter. People write books. Sometimes they don't know everything.

At least Bob Kunst and I agree on one thing: Jimmy Carter should not have apologized.

Of course it's a farce. He just wants his Grandson to be elected into office. Of his apology, the prayer he really meant to say was: "I'll Hate! I'll Hate! I'll Hate!"

We should take Carter's apology in good faith,despite the fact that it may be politically motivated to help his nephew in his election. Let's not forget that he was instrumental in the Peace with Egypt.

Carter was correct in his assessment of Israel, but he can honestly apologize to the Jews of the world. Judaism is separate from Israel (a civil state), and no criticism had been directed at Judaism or the Jewish people.