(CAMERA) Tamar Sternthal - In an op-ed in the New York Times, Jimmy Carter errs on military rule in the West Bank, stating: "Over 4.5 million Palestinians live in these occupied territories, but are not citizens of Israel. Most live under Israeli military rule, and do not vote in Israel's national elections." According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, there are 2.9 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. In addition, there are 300,000 Arabs living in Jerusalem. Of the West Bank Arabs, the vast majority live in Area A, which is under the authority of Palestinian security forces. Given that the vast majority of Palestinians live under Palestinian rule, it is no wonder that they don't vote in Israeli elections. Carter quotes selectively from UN Resolution 242, ignoring Arab responsibilities under the resolution such as "termination of all claims or states of belligerency" against Israel by its Arab neighbors; acknowledgment of the "right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries"; and a "just settlement of the refugee problem" (encompassing Jewish refugees from Arab lands as well as the smaller number of Palestinian refugees from what became Israel).
2016-12-09 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive