Carter defends book on Mideast

Former President Carter defended his controversial book at a predominantly Jewish university, telling the audience that his goal was to revive Middle East peace talks and that attacks on his character had hurt him and his family.

Jewish groups have expressed outrage at “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,” arguing that its comparison of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to South Africa’s reviled system of racial segregation could undermine perceptions of Israel’s legitimacy.

In his first direct address to Jewish Americans on his book, Carter told the gathering at Brandeis University in Waltham that the title referred to human rights in the Palestinian territories, not in Israel. He said the word “apartheid” was intended to provoke debate on the rights of Palestinians, who he said were being treated unfairly by Israel.