Carter explains 'apartheid' comments

Former US president Jimmy Carter has written to American Jews explaining his use of the term “apartheid” and sympathising with Israelis who fear terrorism, following controversy over his new book on the Middle East conflict.

In a “letter to Jewish citizens of America”, Carter also said American Christians, not Jews, were responsible for an “overwhelming bias for Israel” in the US media.

Carter’s book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, follows the peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians during his presidency in 1977-1980. His letter said the term apartheid “does not apply to circumstances within Israel”.