Jimmy Carter: Architect of Peace and a Complex Legacy

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Sunday at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of landmark achievements and enduring controversies. A dogged peacemaker, Carter helped shape the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.

One of the most highly praised feats of Carter’s presidency was the brokering of the Camp David Accords, which led to the historic 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. Through Carter’s tireless diplomacy, that treaty ended decades of animosity between the two nations. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat joined Carter at the White House for the signing of the treaty, a cornerstone to stability in the region.

The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, paid tribute to Mr. Carter, who he said was “a fearless leader” whose work produced “an anchor of stability throughout the Middle East and North Africa.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel joined the praise: “Today, a peace that has endured, for the benefit of generations, in large part thanks to him, is celebrated with renewed vigor.” For helping facilitate that peace, Mr. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, underlining his international status as peacemaker.

Whatever he may have achieved or is doing, Carter presents quite a complicated legacy in terms of his relations to Israel. Of course, since retiring to private life in 1981 he has expressed outspoken opposition to Israel regarding policies about its treatment of Arabs, commonly referred to as the Palestinian Arabs. His 2006 book entitled Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid certainly generated – at best – very high level controversy with almost general claims of his unfair condemnation against that nation and perpetration of evil stories.

American Jewish leaders such as Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League and Deborah Lipstadt, now the U.S. special envoy on antisemitism, criticized Carter with uncharacteristic severity. Lipstadt called him a person with a “Jewish problem,” while Foxman termed him a “bigot.” Carter denied all these accusations and explained that his commitment to the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution was because of his belief in peace and justice.

“I have been called a liar, an antisemite, a bigot,” Carter said at a University of Georgia seminar. “These accusations concern me, but they don’t detract from the fact that the book is accurate and needed.” He insisted that his critiques were meant to point out the persecution of the Palestinians and to point toward a road to peace that was already there.

Dr. Kenneth Stein, a former Middle East adviser to Carter, remembered his lasting impact on Arab-Israeli relations and the wider Middle East. Stein pointed out that Carter’s presidency was defined by two pivotal events: the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, which gave way to the Islamic Republic and the long hostage crisis.

The post-presidency of Carter was marked by his persistence in the affairs that were taking place globally, especially in the Middle East. “For forty-plus years, he used the post-presidency as an extended second presidential term,” Stein said, adding that Carter’s activism set a precedent for public engagement by former presidents.

From presidency to humanitarian missions to advocacy for peace, a century-long life has been at service for Carter. That he could achieve these historic agreements amidst so much controversy just goes to the man’s determination and vision. The consensus on the tenuous state of relations between him and the State of Israel and the Jewish community will always remain a very sensitive point. Yet, at the same time, helping foes reach an accord against expectations constitutes an important legacy.

As the world mourns the passing of Jimmy Carter, his legacy as a peacemaker and an unusually complicated figure in international diplomacy lives on. As Herzog noted, the late statesman’s actions for peace “will be defined by his deep commitment to forging peace between nations.” His work remains behind to attest to what diplomacy can achieve and to pursue stability in the stormy world.