Jimmy Carter: George Bush Is Worst US Ally of Israel

"In my opinion, maybe the worst ally Israel has had in Washington has been the George W. Bush administration, which hasn't worked to bring a permanent peace to Israel."

--- Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and innumerable other awards for his decades-long work for international peace and democracy through the Carter Center. On August 4, 2006 to the Grand Rapids Press.

When asked if an immediate cease fire can still be mediated between Israel and Lebanon, Carter replied, "It depends on whether world opinion is strong enough to get the administration to change its erroneous policy, which has been to encourage the continuation of attacks on both sides."

Regarding Iraq, Carter called the Iraq War "unjust" and " unnecessary" and commented, "... we should make every effort now to withdraw American troops from Iraq. I would say certainly begin a major withdrawal no later than the end of this year."

President Carter Brokered Middle East Peace
President Carter was responsible for brokering the landmark 1978 Camp David Accords, which were were signed at the White House by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978, following weeks of secret negotiations at Camp David.

The resulting agreements, "A Framework for Peace in the Middle East" and "A Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel," had momentous ramifications on Middle Eastern politics, especially the disintegration of a united Arab front in opposition to Israel.

Of course, both genuine efforts and half-hearted pretense at Middle East peace have badly deteriorated under George W. Bush's watch.