So when the President of Iran sees a world without Zionism, that is not
threat. That is like saying, Hitler was no threat to Poland in August 31,
1939!

Carter: Iran not yet a threat to Israel

 Associated Press , THE JERUSALEM POST                       Sep. 20, 2007
 

Former President Jimmy Carter said that he does not think Iran poses an
immediate threat to Israel, despite claims by Iranian officials that they
have drawn up bombing plans if the Jewish state should attack.

Speaking on Wednesday at Emory University, Carter, who brokered the 1979
Camp David peace accord between Israel and Egypt, said Israel's superior
military power and distance from Iran likely are enough to discourage an
actual attack.
 

"Iran is quite distant from Israel," said Carter, 83. "I think it would be
almost inconceivable that Iran would commit suicide by launching one or two
missiles of any kind against the nation of Israel."
 

Iran's deputy air force commander said Wednesday that Israel is within
range of Iran's medium-range missiles and bombers and that Teheran would
strike back if Israel "makes a silly mistake."
 

The White House said the comments almost sound geared toward provoking a
fight and Israeli officials said they take the threats seriously.
 

Responding to a question from an Emory student during a public forum,
Carter did not dismiss the desire of the Iranian government to attack
Israel, noting a nuclear program Iran's leaders claim is to fuel nuclear
reactors, not make weapons.
 

"Obviously, we all hope we can do whatever we can to keep Iran from
becoming a nuclear power," Carter said.
 

Carter said unease between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza and the West
Bank is a far greater threat to the nation's security than Iran. He
criticized President George W. Bush's administration for not doing enough
to broker peace in the region. (HELLO EARTH to CARTER, who do you think
supplies so much weapons and cash in this? IRAN, IRAN, IRAN. No, no threat
there! And what about Southern Lebanon, whose hand prints are all over
that, IRAN, IRAN,IRAN.
 

"Since President Clinton made his heroic effort at Camp David, there hasn't
been a single day of peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis," he
said.
 

Carter spoke roughly a year after he completed his book "Palestine: Peace
Not Apartheid".
 

Jewish groups and other critics condemned Carter for comparing Israeli
actions in the Palestinian territories to the oppression under South
Africa's apartheid regime.
 

Carter said he chose the title to be provocative, not inflammatory, and
that he hoped to encourage debate over Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
 

In a new 'afterword' to editions of the book released this month, Carter
criticizes the lack of "balanced debate" in the US about the Middle East
and warns officials against being "seen as knee-jerk supporters of every
action and policy" of Israel's government.
 

The Emory event was Carter's 26th annual town hall meeting at the Atlanta
university, where he holds the title of distinguished professor and
lectures about once a month.
 

David Molina