Carter Reflects on Middle East Conflict, Obama’s Diplomatic Road Ahead

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• MARGARET WARNER:

  As the Obama administration tries to reinvigorate U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East, former President Carter has come out with a new book, "We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work."

  Three decades ago, as president, he brokered the Camp David Accords of 1978 between Israel and Egypt. His 2006 book on the Middle East subject, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," sparked controversy for comparing the Israelis' treatment of the Palestinians to racial apartheid in 20th-century South Africa.

  And President Carter joins me now.

  And welcome, Mr. President.

  JIMMY CARTER, Former President of the United States: Good to be here. Thank you, Margaret.

• MARGARET WARNER:

  After 15 years of stalemate in the Middle East peace process and this conflict in Gaza, you're still arguing here that the time is ripe for a deal between Israel and the Palestinians. Explain.

• JIMMY CARTER:

  There are two reasons. One is a generic reason, that Israel is facing a crucial choice between one state or two states. One state will be a disaster for Israel, as all of their leaders have acknowledged publicly, but that's the way they're going now.

  And the other one is the new president in the White House and his commitment to begin to work on the Middle East at the beginning of his administration and not wait until later in his term.

  And his choice of a envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is absolutely superb, and it shows that he's going to take a more balanced position between the Israelis and their neighbors and, secondly, that he's chosen a man who has proven he's one of the best negotiators on Earth, having brought about peace in Northern Ireland. And he's very familiar with the Middle East, as well.

  So those reasons are what I believe are good indications that it's going to be a time for reconciliation.

• MARGARET WARNER:

  When you say a more balanced position, what do you mean?

• JIMMY CARTER:

  Well, I think he sees, rather than just representing the Israeli point of view, as some of the other envoys have done, being very closely tied publicly and professionally to Israel, George Mitchell, I think, does have an equal, balanced point of view between the Palestinian points of need and the Israelis'.

  And he's proven that by his earlier analysis under President Clinton of the situation in the West Bank, so that, I think, shows that it's going to be a very strong move.