To condemn Jimmy Carter's new book.

Must be prominent, credible, and above all willing to say anything bad about the former president's new book in return for professional and political perks.

Need not be genuine. Must not be truthful or feel the need to give Carter a chance to respond. Bigoted inquiries only. END AD

You think I'm kidding - but, I'm not. However, the spirit of this advertisement is not mine.

It's the brainchild of Shmuel Rosner at Haaretz:

It seems that the well-publicized resignation by the Carter Center board members and the Reform rabbis' letter, both developments of the past few days, have tipped the scales against Carter and his book. After all, neither the resigners nor the boycotters can be suspected of being enemies of the peace process. They are lily-white, proven doves for whom Carter simply went too far. A clear line has been drawn here, with Carter's help: a consensus that defines the boundaries of what cannot be said about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even in the eyes of fierce critics of Israeli policy.

Nevertheless, one problem remains: The critics, as Carter justly claims, are almost all Jews. That is the only card left in his hand, but it is a strong one, which embodies a trap from which there is no escape.

On one hand, this problem, too, could be solved: All it needs is one well-known, well-respected, non-Jewish critic to come out publicly against Carter. If such a person does emerge, it will be possible to completely undermine the legitimacy of this miserable book. But on the other hand, what lies behind the assumption that such a critic is needed? Is this not a disturbing admission that even in America, when it comes to Israel, the word of Jews is still not, and may never be, completely sufficient?

Could it be because many, though not all, Jews will say or do ANYTHING to advance the interests of the TRIBE???

Submitted by qrswave on Mon, 2007-01-15 08:39

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