Jimmy Carter: “I think the best way to be predictable is first of all to have a clearly understood policy that has been worked out…”

But inside Palestine, outside of Israel, where the Israelis occupying forces are there, the persecution and deprivation of the Palestinians is horrendous.

I think that sends a clear signal to Maliki that we won't be there indefinitely and my hope is that they'll be a commitment by the world community including the controversial nations of Syria and Iran.

I recognize that Israel is a wonderful democracy with freedom of speech and equality of treatment under the law between Arab Israelis and Jewish Israelis.

Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy.