To john in LA, if you are a practicing christian you would be despised and spit upon in Israel just as much as in Iran or Saudi Arabia. Israel is no friend to christians and you show your ignorance by your post.

Tom, Desert Hot Springs, USA

Not 1 oil rich arab country does anything to help the palestinian people.

It is to their benefit to keep Israel as a common enemy. It keeps their own citizens from rising against them.

As a practicing christian what country would you live in if had a choice. Israel or Iran or Saudi Arabia?

john, los angeles, usa

Both Nelson Mandela and Desmod Tutu spoke on behalf of Palestinians in the past and said that Palestinian have to endure, at times, something worse than South Africa's Apartheid. At the time those comments were made, there was almost no reporting in western media. We need brave people to speak up.

M M, London,

Israel is surrounded by countries that show very little value for human life, detest their very existence, and are martyred for killing innocent lives. They've lost their say in what weapons Israel may harbor. Their lack of use of these bombs illustrates the difference in Israel versus their enemies

Pam A., Atlanta, GA, USA

So finally here is one person who actually said "the king has no cloths on ! "
Unfortunately, there are now conspiracies to "destroy the honest man"

So much for Truth, Honesty and our value system!

James, London, UK

If I wore a hat it would be off to Carter. Nobody in politics has the guts to tell the truth in that situation but Jimmy. I'm sure with Israel's huge lobbying power and control over so much media it will stay the same unless people like him and people in other countries tell the truth.

Lee Brooks, Austin, Tx,

Jews around the world are not safe unless Israel is safe. We do not want a second Carter term.

S Friedman, Cincinnati,

Nice to here former Pres. Jimmy Carter come out and say what is a fact. What the Palestinians have gone through in the last fifty years is outright shamefull. What gets me, I here so called American jews saying Carter is anti-semitic. Are they Americans or Israeli ? They always want it there way.

Davis, Kihei, USA

ClairW in London, there is no democracy in Israel, how can you have democracy when all those within your "borders" aren't allowed to cast a vote. I'm sorry but that IS apartheid in anybody's books.

We have all got to look deeper and not just accept the US rhetoric about these things.

Dale, Australia,

So I guess in WWII the Americans should have told the British to 'suck it up' and make peace with Hitler because they are not going away and you'll have to deal with them. Why is it that when the holy British are threatened carpet bombing is the answer but when it comes to Jews they cannot?

Mike, Montreal, Canada

Israel, the hot bed of innovation, is a great country. That little sliver of land has produced more IP and contributed more to world progress than all her neighbours put together. They do need their nukes, and they need their neighbours to know that they have nukes. Thanks Jimmy!

Kara Swart, London, UK

I'm sick of the Israel lobby, both inside and outside the U.S., and their constant meddling in U.S. politics. I should think the Israelis would feel the same way about the constant ham-handed meddling by U.S. politicians in their affairs. Let Israel look after themselves, as can the U.S.

Robert Scott, San Leandro, CA, USA

It's like this: at the end of the day, would a nuclear arsenal be safer with the Israelis or the Arabs? I believe the Israelis have a better system of accountability wheras the likes of Hamas, Hezbollah, etc, etc. have none.

ian cheese, london, uk

Mr. Carter was an embarrassment in office and is one out of office and out of touch. He is no peace-maker, but a bitter man for his failure while in office and now is making the peace process in the middle east more difficult than ever. However, it is true to form.

H. Hylyard Irvin, Peoria, Az, USA

Jimmy. like Harry Truman, made some dumb statements and made some dumb statements. Yet, overall, they were and are on the money. It takes guts to say the emperon has no clothes.

Herschel Atkinson, Elberton GA, USA

I'm surprised that James Earl Carter called Europe 'supine' in relation to Israel. Those in Europe who support Israel may be wrong in doing so, out of cultural chauvinism or misplaced guilt, but they would be doing so by choice. It isn't Israel's oil on which Europe is abjectly dependent.

John Savard, Edmonton, Canada

Strange that nobel peace prize winners rarely, if ever, achieve peace in the conflicts they seek to end. Throughout history conflicts were, and are, caused by leadership power struggles. If only people were allowed to get on with their lives there could be peace.

petere fieldman, paris, france

I believe beyond doubt that Israel has Nuclear Weapons helped by the USA. I have no objections to them having them. Don't forget that Israel is a democracy surround extremely hostile countries . Sadly many Israeli's see criticism of Israli HR abuses as criticism of Israel's existence.

Chris Packham, London, UK

Honest article! Bravo! Bronwen Maddox just gave a chance to the the world Jewery to show its true colors -- deception, occupation, manipulation (DOM). If they really wanted security for Israel within its 1967 borders, Jimmy Carter would not have to restate the obvious truth!

Lauren Miller, Altoona, USA

Martyn & Ian:

Olmert let the cat out of the bag only for those who were eager to see a cat and to see a bag.

And for those who think they know that Israel has nuclear weapons today, I suppose it makes sense for them to also think they know that Israel had nukes back when Carter was president.

Ehad Ha'am, Ra'anana, Israel

Israel has worked a clever trick on the Americans. Everything bad it has done, Americans have also done. Annexing someone else's land? Genocide? A two-tier society with apartheid? Claiming the moral high ground while resorting to extreme violence? Falling back on religious authority? All the same.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

Israel is on a life support machine sustained by billions of U.S dollars in military aid.

jayil, london, uk

There answer to the geometrical problem of peace between Israel and Palestine is as simple as moving a line back where it was a few decades ago. Q.E.D.

San Ying, Montreal, Canada

I am not so sure MR. Carter is such a marvellous guy. Down fall of the Shah of Iran was due to Mr. Carter himself. Since then the ME has suffered the fires of rage. Now we have to buy his book to read the reasons for his blunders in the ME. Has he talked to Mr.Blair?
Tizab

Tizab, Orpington, Kent

Any ex-CIA or ex-MI6 operative saying 10 % of what Jimmy Carter said about the Nuclear arsenal of Israel would have been in prison for a very long time.
Countries have secrets and when they share theirs with friends it is expected from its officials, present or long past, to keep them to themselves

Moshe Haviv, Tel Aviv, ISRAEL

I don't think there was much force involved August...get away from the conspiracy theories. Americans support Israel because they support democracy and they know what it has taken the Israelis to build a state for their people, pity Europe fails to see it.

Clairw , London, UK

Jimmy Carter could ask Hamas and Fatah to organise the voter registration of 2 million+ Palestinian refugee voters. The refugees have asked for it. Palestinian journalists could organise opinion polls. For more info, google: out of country voting

Hugo van Randwyck, London, UK

Ehad Ha'am, even Olmert himself has let the cat out of the bag and as much of Israel's nuclear capability came from the UK/US it is a bit lame to claim that Carter is a know-nothing...

Perhaps also the Times could speculate on why the US allows the Israeli military to guard its nuclear arsenal???

Ian Watson, Gillingham, United Kingdom

The W&M article is antisemitic crock, but the truth is, Israel wields the real power in the middle east. No pressure from the US or europe can strip Israel of its nuclear power.

Adam Barlev, Vancouver,

Jimmy Carter deserves immense and eternal credit for orchestrating the Israel - Egypt peace . However , the years go by , and as people age , two sad things happen - first , the brain functions in a damaged way . Second , the desire to remain in the limelight is stronger than any common sense .

Pinchas Avivi, Jerusalem, Israel

As a American, I believe Jimmy Carter is a great humanitarian, but does he give the psychological advantage in his dealings in the Middle East to the Iranians. I can't imagine that Iran has forgotten the humiliation and anguish that Jimmy Carter suffered in the much publicized American hostage situation during his administration. As nobody in our present political arena possesses his open-mindedness, intelligence or selflessness; he is the best individual for stable input from our country. Mr. Carter has nothing to gain but self satisfaction and further international respect.

John Louderback, Cape May, USA

Does Ehad Ha'am think that Israel has thrown it's nukes away since Carter was president?

"If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies."...........Moshe Dayan

martyn, calvia, spain

WHEN WE BOMBED THE NUCLEAR PLANT IN IRAQ, the president, the Pentigon, C.I.A. et al WERE SHOCKED !
They were clueless ! Any concern for the accuracy of Lillian's son; or the rumors thereof, having any credibility, is greatly exaggerated

Ierglib Drawde, JERUSALEM, Israel

Everyone seems to be willing to tell the world the size of Israel’s alleged nuclear arsenal, except those who actually know. Carter, who has been out of office for 27 years, with his hostile relationship with the US and Israeli governments certainly doesn’t have many sources of reliable information.

Ehad Ha'am, Ra'anana, Israel

"Jimmy Carter is right to say the unsayable"

I am glad to read this from a credible Times commentator. There is so much false information and misleading statements on the net, it's hard to find the truth. I have faith in the Times team. Well said, thanks!

jayil, london, uk

Europeans seem to not quite understand how effectively supporters of Israel have forced American politicians to swear fealty to Israel. This is the real 3d rail of US politics. Read Walt & Mearsheimer's "The Israel Lobby" to understand this. This column offers yet more proof that W&M are right.

August West, Tampa, FL USA