Carter Backs Palestinian UN State Bid
Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday he supports the Palestinians' effort to secure statehood recognition at the United Nations this month, despite White House concerns for the region.
The Georgia Democrat said he wouldn't be in favor of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' bid to win U.N. recognition if President Barack Obama's administration had "put forward any sort of comprehensive peace proposal." But he told Palestinians have few other options but to seek statehood since no deal is in the works.
"As an alternative to a deadlock and a stalemate now, we reluctantly support the Palestinian move for recognition," he said at a town hall event at the Carter Center in Atlanta.
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