Jimmy Carter says that Bush has encouraged Israel and Hezbollah to attack

[tocqueville]

Sunday, August 6, 2006 Posted: 0304 GMT (1104 HKT)

Former President Jimmy Carter says that Bush has encouraged Israel and Hezbollah to attack.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan (AP) -- Former President Carter, who helped broker the historic Camp David peace accord, said President Bush has pursued an "erroneous policy" that has fostered violence in the Middle East.

Carter said the United States should work for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah and the world community should concentrate on a long-term solution, but he is uncertain whether Bush can accomplish a cease-fire.

"It depends on whether world opinion is strong enough to get the administration to change its erroneous policy, which has been to encourage the continuation of attacks on both sides," Carter, a Democrat, told The Grand Rapids Press in an interview Friday.

Carter's comments came a day before the U.S. and France agreed on a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, but would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/08/05/carter.mideast.ap/index.html