Malaysian Scholars Foundation

Field : Palestine
Title : Palestine; peace not apartheid
Author : Jimmy Carter
Publication : Pocket Books
ISBN : 978-1-84739-154-4
Rating : aaaa
Level : Intermediate
Reviewed by: A.S Abd Mokti

Informative, argumentative, and provocative, the book offers to readers of different background; i.e. friends of Palestine, Israel or both the perspective of an American statesman who was heavily involved in the issue of Israel-Palestine in the Middle East. Carter has chosen to write the book in a simple but clear language as to suit the readers of different level. This is surely a must-read book for readers of interest in the issue concerning Palestine-Israel and the struggle for peace in the Middle East. It is also completed with Maps of the region based on the events that happened, historical chronology and appendices of the various peace agreement proposed by the US, UN and other parties.

Carter starts with his view on the prospect of peace in the troubled region and examined the root of the conflict, history of main key players and the hurdle for peace in Israel and the occupied land of Palestine. Carter shares his intimate experience with various prominent individuals of Arab leaders of Syria, Saudi, Jordan, and Lebanon, generations of Israeli leaders, the Palestinians and US officials and managed to address the sensitive political issues many western officials shied away according his experience working directly inside the White House as presidents and outside as the founder of The Carter Centre.

The book also elaborates on the various measures taken by him and other US presidents, especially Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush in tackling the complex problem in the middle east, and how usually Israel has always been reluctant to dismantle the illegal settlements and continue to occupy the Palestinian land. Readers are also given a brief account of the episodes of both the Palestine’s and Israel’s election and the aftermath.

The end chapter entitled ‘the wall as a prison’ describes the situation of apartheid-like treatments that the Palestinians experienced combined with constant building of illegal settlements in their territory. He finally concludes the book by prescribing the long-abandoned role of the USA as the mediator of peace between the two disputing sides combined with the two-state solution which shares the Holy Land based on UN approved border 1967 without a system of apartheid or the constant fear of terrorism from both sides.

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