Traditionally, ex-president's usually refrain from actions that run counter to current American foreign policy. However, with Jimmy Carter tradition flies out the window as he seizes every opportunity to rail against Pres. Bush and Israel, yet he lets terrorists and fascists off the hook.

On the plus side, Carter helped to mediate the Egyptian-Israeli treaty in 1978. He has also done some humanitarian work since his one-term presidency, but too often he sides with the wrong side of history in the sphere of foreign policy.

Typical of arrogant busybodies that view the world with blinders on, Carter plays fast and loose with historical facts during his global escapades. By meeting with Hamas leaders in Damascus, he plays right into the hands of uncompromising terrorists. It's a win-win situation for the terrorist propaganda machine, while the free world loses big time. Doesn't Carter ever learn from history? His previous negotiations with Yasser Arafat didn't bear much fruit because Arafat never gave up his diabolical terror agenda.

Carter thinks that most problems in the MIddle East are generated by a lack of resolution vis a vis Palestinian statehood. He also appears to have bought into the fallacy that authoritarian Arab regimes care about the Palestinians. Daniel P. Moynihan once noted that people are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts.

Jordan is the sole Arab state in the region that offers citizenship to Palestinians. It is very difficult for Palestinians to attain a quality education, buy land, or own a business in other states. By contrast, over a million Arabs residing in Israel enjoy far more civil rights than in neighboring states, and they can be Israeli citizens. Israelis don't waste time talking about how they assist Palestinians; instead,their actions speak louder than words.

Next, Carter points the finger of blame at Israel and western democracies in regards to the plight of the Palestinians. Most reasonable folks have some empathy for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, but compassion alone doesn't improve lives. If the Palestinians are to modernize and prosper, they must do most of the heavy lifting. They need to select leaders that understand compromise and a respect for the rule of law. Moreover, these leaders must abide by ceasefires and treaties, recognize Israel's sovereignty, and disavow terrorism.

Like many others, Carter believes that the Palestinians deserve a state. However, deserved or not, the Palestinians must take positive steps to earn recognition and statehood. For many decades prior to 1948, the Jewish people worked tirelessly to establish the state of Israel. Finally, after decades of blood, sweat, and tears, Israel won globally recognized statehood. It is now a genuine democracy surrounded by hostile regimes.

When Israel came into being, Arab leaders urged Arabs living in and around Israel to flee the area to neighboring states. Likewise, most Jews residing in Arab nations departed in order to live in Israel. In 1948, the Palestinians were given the opportunity to build a state that was as large (or larger) than Israel, but they rejected the offer.

Since that time, numerous chances to forge peace and statehood have been squandered. Billions of dollars in aid were stashed in foreign accounts, when it could have been used to craft a prosperous society. Abba Eban once noted that Yasser Arafat never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity. That stubborn habit of inflexibility continues with the current Hamas/Fatah leadership. Land for peace concessions by Israel have largely backfired, because Palestinian leaders have been unable, or unwilling to disavow terror as a political tactic.

This pattern of behavior only increases the awareness of skeptics, who realize that the militant wings in the leadership don't really want a state. What they truly desire is the annihilation of the free, democratic nation of Israel. Unfortunately, Palestinian moderates have been incapable of reining in the fanatic Islamists who perpetuate conflict to gain power.

Moreover, each time there appears to be a breakthrough in bilateral or multilateral negotiations with moderate Palestinians, terrorists strike Israel and set back progress. These extremists carry out proxy warfare against Israel at the behest of rogue states such as Iran, Syria and other autocracies that thrive on chaos.

So once again, Carter applies revisionism and blames the wrong parties for the largely self-inflicted crises of the Palestinians. He ought to live in Israel for a few months to experience life under the constant threat of homicide bombings and rocket attacks.

Is Israel perfect? By no means, but when Israeli leaders make mistakes they usually apologize and make reparations, unlike the terrorists and their masters. Indeed, Israel has bent over backwards time and time again to support a peace process through financial aid and serious talks. It has also been a model of vibrant democracy despite perennial threats to its existence. Carter ought to study the facts on the ground so that he can find his way back to the right side of history.