ORTHODOX UNION CONCERNED BY RICE CONSULTATIONS WITH FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, expressed deep concern today over news reports that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has consulted with former president, Jimmy Carter, in preparing for the upcoming Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Annapolis.

President Carter’s most recent book, “Peace, Not Apartheid” was widely condemned as biased by a wide spectrum of the American Jewish community and by friends of Israel of all faiths.

UOJCA Director of Public Policy Nathan Diament stated:

“Rather than outreach to someone who always finds Israel at fault and always excuses each and every Palestinian failure, including terrorism
and the targeting of civilians, it is better to find Palestinian leadership willing to step up and deliver peace, not violence.
To date, as National Security Adviser and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice has held firm to clear principles – that the U.S. must
stand with her democratic allies in the face of Islamic terrorists – which led to her being a stalwart supporter of Israel. We pray she
remains committed to these principles even today and would distance herself from those who reject them.”

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