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The Chicago Tribune published the following op-ed by former
U.S. Congressman Paul Findley today. Findley, who wrote about the
pro-Israel lobby in They Dare to Speak Out and other books, exposes the
tactics the lobby uses to silence those who defend Palestinian rights.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0702070020feb07,0,5388645.story?coll=chi-newsopinioncommentary-hed
Carter enters lions' den
Despite criticism, his book is work of a true patriot
By Paul Findley
February 7, 2007
At the age of 82, Jimmy Carter entered the lion's den. With the publication of
his latest book, "Palestine:
Peace not Apartheid," he did what a patriot would do: rally Americans to
vigorous debate of a critical issue that affects our future. He deserves a
hero's praise. Instead, he has been attacked and defamed.
I had the honor to serve as the senior Republican on the Middle East
Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee throughout the
Carter administration. Carter frequently invited me to huddles in the White
House; discussions that would ultimately lead to a lasting peace between Israel and Egypt. I know Carter well and
consider him a friend.
I also experienced firsthand what Carter now faces. Toward the end of my
22-year tenure in Congress, I spoke in favor of Palestinian rights and was
critical of Israeli policies of Palestinian land confiscation and Jewish-only
settlements on Palestinian lands. These actions were counter to American policy
and values. They dimmed chances for peace.
As a result of my evenhanded position, the pro-Israel lobby poured money into
my opponent's campaign. I overcame their challenge in 1980 but lost in 1982 by
a narrow margin. Still, the message was heard loudly on Capitol Hill: Criticize
Israel and pay with your congressional seat.
In my 1985 book, "They Dare to Speak Out," I detailed the tactics
used to silence criticism of Israeli policies. One of the groups employing
these tactics is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. On its Web site,
AIPAC calls itself "America's
pro-Israel lobby" and boasts a New York Times description of it as
"the most important organization affecting America's
relationship with Israel."
All citizens have the right to band together and push for policies they believe
are right. But AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobby groups do not plead the case
for Israel
on the stage of public opinion. Instead, they often resort to smear campaigns
and intimidation to clear the floor so that only their side is heard.
Carter has dared to call a spade a spade. South African leaders, like
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and UN Envoy John Dugard, compare Israeli policies to
apartheid. The Israeli press uses the term, as do Israeli politicians. Former
Education Minister Shulamit Aloni said in a recent commentary, "Indeed
apartheid does exist here." Pro-Israel lobby groups have not debated the
credence of these claims. Instead, they lob accusations and insults, even
insinuating that Carter is anti-Semitic. They do not prove him wrong with
facts. They seek to discredit him with innuendo.
I do not believe these groups set out to discredit opponents and destroy free
speech. I believe they had the singular purpose of ensuring U.S. government support for Israel. But
after decades of Israeli actions running counter to American policies and
values, it becomes difficult to do one without the other.
American policy has long held, for example, that Israeli settlements on
occupied Palestinian land are illegal. Yet Israel continues to build them.
American values demand that all people be treated equally, that rights be doled
out in equal measure regardless of one's race, religion or ethnicity.
Yet, as Carter points out in his book, Israel endows Jewish settlers
living on Palestinian land with full rights, while denying those rights to the
Palestinians living on their own land.
If these issues were debated openly, U.S.
policymakers would have to hold Israel
accountable and demand that our financial and diplomatic support be contingent
upon Israel
upholding American values and policy positions.
Yet there is silence. Critical discussion of Israeli policies is non-existent in
Congress. Rather than conducting vigorous committee hearings, as happens with
other issues, members of Congress compete to outdo one another in statements of
support for Israel.
And American tax dollars keep flowing uninterrupted to Israel.
Our unconditional support of Israel
damages our credibility on the world stage. It deprives us of potential allies
in the Arab and Muslim worlds. It allows Israel to remain intransigent and
condemns Palestinian and Israeli children to decades more of conflict.
Open discussion, where all perspectives are debated, leads to good policy.
Carter took a stand for what is right: for Americans, for Palestinians and for
Israelis. It is time for a sitting president and members of Congress to do the
same.
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Paul Findley represented Illinois
in the U.S. House for 22 years. He is the author of numerous books, including
"They Dare to Speak Out" and "Silent No More."
Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
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