JERUSALEM — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter played a crucial role in establishing the landmark peace accord that ended hostilities with Israel’s crucial rival, Egypt. However, his subsequent comments labeling Israel’s military governance over Palestinians as apartheid generated significant backlash from the Israeli administration.

The Camp David Accords, which were finalized between Israel and Egypt in 1978, still stand as the most significant triumph of U.S. diplomatic efforts in the turbulent geopolitics of the Middle East, traditionally marked by inadequate peace initiatives. Though Carter is celebrated for this achievement, as he passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday, his legacy is somewhat overshadowed by his ongoing concern regarding the plight of Palestinians and Israel’s expansion of settlements in territories they seek for a future state.

In the months leading up to his death, Carter had entered hospice care and notably did not make any public statements, coinciding with the onset of renewed hostilities in the Gaza region. Throughout and after his presidency, he committed much of his energy toward resolving the enduring conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

**A Breakthrough Peace Agreement**

When Carter took office in 1977, relations between Israel and Egypt were strained following four intense wars, the latest being a 1973 conflict initiated by a surprise attack from Egypt that threatened Israel’s very survival. Carter’s commitment to peace led to an unprecedented visit by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to Jerusalem and subsequently exhausted negotiations that persuaded the steadfastly resolute Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

Aharon Barak, who previously held the role of Israeli attorney general and president of the Supreme Court, noted, “There would not be a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt without President Carter.” He described Carter’s relentless negotiation style, which involved extended hours and meticulous attention to detail. “He was very tough, knew what he wanted, and he got what he wanted. And I admired it,” Barak remarked.

This peace treaty marked the first between Israel and an Arab nation, stipulating Israel’s withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula—acquired during the 1967 war—and establishing complete diplomatic relations with Egypt. Nearly fifty years later, the peace remains intact.

**Stalled Peace Efforts after Carter’s Presidency**

Despite the Camp David Accords advocating for a path toward Palestinian autonomy in areas like the West Bank and Gaza—lands seized by Israel in 1967—these provisions were never realized. The failure of these promises contributed to Carter’s electoral defeat two years post-agreement, largely influenced by the Iran hostage crisis, thereby leaving peace initiatives stagnant.

The Oslo Accords reached between Israelis and Palestinians in 1993 echoed Carter’s earlier framework, seeking the establishment of a Palestinian Authority and gradual Israeli withdrawal from the occupied regions. However, the momentum dissipated again in 2000 during another Camp David summit, subsequently sparking a Palestinian uprising and significant Israeli military responses.

Carter remained actively involved in Middle Eastern affairs as a proponent of human rights and democratic principles, overseeing Palestinian electoral processes through his foundation, the Carter Center. He also opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq, criticizing President George W. Bush’s foreign policy.

**Controversy Over Apartheid Allegations**

Throughout his later years, Carter was vocal about the Israeli settlement expansions in the West Bank, deeming them detrimental to hope for a peaceful resolution to the age-old conflict. His accusations escalated when he described the situation faced by around 3 million Palestinians living under Israeli military authority as tantamount to apartheid.

In a 2007 discussion defending his views articulated in the book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,” Carter stated that the term was an “accurate description” of the conditions imposed on Palestinians. Although he maintained these proclamations stemmed from a desire for enduring peace, his sentiments angered many in Israel, prompting accusations of bias and inaccuracies in his statements.

The Israeli government, which considers its Arab citizenry full citizens with voting rights, strongly contests any insinuation that its control over Palestinians equates to apartheid. Barak, who oversaw many rulings favoring Palestinian claims, dismissed Carter’s characterizations, stating, “That’s not apartheid.” He acknowledged Carter’s complexity but ultimately regarded him as a friend to Israel.

The situation for Palestinians has further deteriorated since, with no substantial peace discussions in more than a decade, rampant settlement expansions, and a government that backs annexation, making the hope for a viable Palestinian state increasingly elusive. Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have adopted Carter’s terminology to illustrate the ongoing situation, asserting that Israel’s actions amount to apartheid.

Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights Watch, credited Carter with pioneering this discourse. “Today, apartheid is the consensus within the global human rights movement,” Shakir noted, emphasizing the reluctance of contemporary leaders to echo Carter’s bold declarations made years ago.

**Engagement with Hamas**

In a notable and contentious move, Carter, at 83 years of age, engaged with Hamas leaders in 2008 during a group tour with the Elders, a collective of former world leaders. His dialogue with Hamas came under scrutiny due to the group’s history of violence against Israel and refusal to recognize its existence. Yet, Carter asserted he received assurances that Hamas would support a Palestinian state within the borders defined prior to the 1967 war, contingent on approval through a referendum.

The Israeli leadership disapproved of his decision to interact with Hamas, and both Israel and U.S. officials criticized his approach. Subsequently, hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated, culminating in five separate conflicts in Gaza, the most recent ignited by a severe incident on October 7, 2023, which remains ongoing.

For Carter, a figure revered as a humanitarian and statesman globally, the inability to secure lasting peace in the region represented a profound disappointment. “The most important single foreign policy goal in my life has been to bring peace to Israel, and peace and justice to Israel’s neighbors,” Carter reflected during his 2008 visit. “I have done everything I could in office and since I left office to do that.”