Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

"Apartheid" Separating Jews From Carter
Thursday, December 7, 2006

A genial brunch on Sunday morning with staff and donors at the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco, where I was giving a speech, erupted in anger when the topic turned to Jimmy Carter's new book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. None of us had actually read the book, and most of the frustration was over the inflammatory use of the word "Apartheid" in the subtitle (not, as most claimed, the title -- a small, but significant different, if you ask me). One of the most prominent people at the table called Carter an "anti-Semite." That I strongly disagree with, though I think it's fair to call Carter an "Arabist," one who's always been something of a romantic about Arabs. And I generally think the reaction to the book has been over the top.

But now I read that a former aide and onetime executive director at the Carter Center (Carter claims he hasn't been involved in years) has resigned a position citing not just the title, but issues of fact and maybe even plagiarism. Here's the key graf from the NYT:

The adviser, Kenneth W. Stein, a professor of Middle Eastern history and political science at Emory University, resigned his position as a fellow with the Carter Center on Tuesday, ending a 23-year association with the institution. In a two-page letter explaining his action, Mr. Stein called the book 'replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions and simply invented segments.' Mr. Stein said he had used similar language in a private letter he sent to Mr. Carter, but received no reply.

Labels: Middle East

Posted by B Feiler at 9:10 AM
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