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Former US President Jimmy Carter Holds Back Tears Seeing Israeli Destruction of Gaza
20 June 2009
Former US President Jimmy Carter has said he had to "hold back tears" while viewing Israeli destruction of Gaza. He also said Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are being "treated more like animals than human beings," Carter said on Tuesday. Mr. Carter said the responsibility for this terrible human rights crime lies in Jerusalem, Cairo, Washington, and throughout the international community. On a visit to the enclave, he condemned Israel's January bombardment of Gaza, its deliberate destruction and its continuing trade blockade, which he said forbids even children's toys. "I understand that even paper and crayons are treated as a security hazard," he told Gazans at a local United Nations office. "I sought an explanation of this when I met with Israeli officials and I received none, because there is no explanation." "Never before in history has a large community like this been savaged by bombs and missiles and then been deprived of the means to repair itself," he said. Carter said he had seen for himself there had been almost no reconstruction in Gaza over the past five months. Carter said on a visit to Gaza that he had to "hold back tears" when he saw the destruction caused by the deadly campaign Israel waged against Gaza militants in January. Among the sites Mr. Carter visited in Gaza was the American school that was destroyed by the Israeli bombings. "It is very distressing to me. I have to hold back tears when I see the deliberate destruction that has been raked against your people. "I come to the American school which was educating your children, supported by my own country. I see it's been deliberately destroyed by bombs from F16s made in my country and delivered to the Israelis. I feel partially responsible for this -- as must all Americans and all Israelis," Carter said at a news conference. After the briefing, Carter headed to a graduation ceremony for students who completed a human rights curriculum provided by UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. "The human rights curriculum is teaching children about their rights and also about their responsibilities," Carter said in his speech to graduates. In his speech to graduates, Carter said bombings, tanks and a continuing economic siege have brought death, destruction, pain and suffering to Gaza. "Tragically, the international community largely ignores the cries for help, while the citizens of Gaza are treated more like animals than human beings." "The responsibility for this terrible human rights crime lies in Jerusalem, Cairo, Washington, and throughout the international community," Carter said. At a news conference later in Tel Aviv, reporters asked the former president about media reports early Tuesday that said Hamas had thwarted a possible assassination plot against him. The Israeli daily Maariv, quoting a Palestinian source, said explosives had been placed on a road Carter was due to travel on. However, Carter told reporters "I don't believe it's true," "I don't know anything about it." "None of our people were aware of being rerouted. I asked our driver and I asked the others in charge of making the arrangements, (and) they didn't know anything about it," Carter said. Carter said some of his staff asked Gaza's minister of interior, who is in charge of security, and he also was unfamiliar with the report. Also in Gaza, Carter met with Hamas leaders, who he said "want peace and they want to have reconciliation not only with their Fatah brothers but also, eventually, with the Israelis to live side by side.
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