To the editor:
Jimmy Carter, who during his four hapless years as president was a prime factor in creating the Islamic Republic of Iran, now urges lame duck President Barack Obama to lead from behind by joining 137 other countries in granting recognition to a figment of his and their imaginations, the non-existent "state of Palestine."
My advice to President Obama is the same advice my mother gave to me when I wanted to join friends in doing something stupid: just because everyone else is doing it doesn't make it right, or smart.
Certainly rewarding continued Palestinian Arab rejectionism - Mahmoud Abbas has been avoiding negotiations since he walked away when offered the equivalent of all the disputed territory back in 2008 - and support for terrorism would send all the wrong messages.
Almost every move President Obama has made relating to the Palestinian Arab assault on Israel has pushed peace even further away; he should stop before he does even more damage.
Sincerely,
Alan Stein