J Street mourns the passing of President Jimmy Carter, a true friend of Israel and the Jewish people. We join the nation in grieving the loss of a courageous and principled peacemaker who embodied the hard work of diplomacy and represented the very best of American leadership.
President Carter never wavered in his commitment to democracy and justice, even in the face of headwinds that at times seemed insurmountable. With visionary moral clarity, he always emphasized that the well-being of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples are inextricably intertwined, and his work was always grounded in a sincere desire to see a brighter future for all. The world is better for President Carter’s dedication to the safety of Israelis and the rights of Palestinians, and for always insisting that peace is both urgent and possible.
An early supporter of J Street and our mission, President Carter received the Tzedek v’Shalom award in 2021 in recognition of his transformative legacy in pursuit of peace, including helping to broker the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. The endurance of that agreement affirmed President Carter’s deep belief that determined American diplomacy could make the world a better place.
While President Carter may no longer be with us, his legacy lives on through the lives he touched, particularly through the vital work of the Carter Center, one of the only organizations to continue to engage with all parties on the ground in the Middle East, from Israeli political and security officials to a wide range of Palestinian leaders and activists.
Jimmy Carter never gave up hope for a peaceful future between Israelis and Palestinians. While he did not live to see that vision fulfilled in his lifetime, we will continue his work as we re-dedicate ourselves to his vision and legacy. May his memory be a blessing.