Former President Jimmy Carter urged President Barack Obama to recognize Palestine as a state, insisting Monday the change be made ahead of Donald Trump's induction as the current process could likely "destroy Israeli democracy and . . . result in intensifying international condemnation of Israel," he wrote in an op-ed in The New York Times.
Carter has long looked to promote peace in the Middle East and, with wife Rosalynn, worked for decades to support a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. In the New York Times piece, he faulted Israel for disturbing the peace by displacing Palestinians and building settlements on Palestinian land.
"Over 4.5 million Palestinians live in these occupied territories, but are not citizens of Israel," he said. "Most live largely under Israeli military rule, and do not vote in Israel's national elections.
"Meanwhile, about 600,000 Israeli settlers in Palestine enjoy the benefits of Israeli citizenship and laws."
Palestine is recognized as a state by 137 countries, but Obama, who initially called for Middle East peace on his second day in office, has refrained from intervening in the conflict since 2010.
But Carter thinks there is a chance for movement.
"Recognition of Palestine and a new Security Council resolution are not radical new measures but a natural outgrowth of America's support for a two-state solution," he wrote.
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