Israel/Palestine: How Jimmy Carter is saving Israel  Under fire
The January 13th issue of the Economist included an essay titled
“Diaspora Blues” with the following byline: “Jews around the
world should join the debate about Israel, not defend whatever
it does.”  The significance of this statement, in what is the
most respected periodical of political analysis in the English
speaking world, should not go unnoticed. It represents a shift
in the discourse on Israel and the future of the Middle East,
and could be a harbinger for tangible and lasting peace in the
region. The byline tacitly acknowledges the proposition set
forth in recent months that debate on Israel does not exist in
certain circles, and that this lack of discussion is as bad for
the Israelis as it is for the Palestinians. The fact that
similar sentiments are now discussed openly is a testament to
the efforts of a few high profile individuals.  The most
prominent of them is Jimmy Carter, the former US president and
Nobel Peace Prize winner. His