Jimmy Carter apologizes over book passage

Former US President Jimmy Carter has apologized to a US Jewish audience over a passage in his controversial book 'Peace Not Apartheid,' the Jewish Week newspaper reported Friday.

"Asked if he was justifying terrorism in a passage in the book calling on Palestinians to cease terrorist attacks if the Israelis agree to abide by international law, Carter said: 'That sentence was worded in a completely improper and stupid way. I apologize to everyone here. Throughout the rest of the book I call on all Palestinians and Israelis to terminate violence against civilians.' He promised subsequent editions would be changed," the Jewish Week said in its report.

It added that "the former naval officer's steady demeanor; clear message of support for Israel's legitimacy and for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict…won him the audience's good will, at the very least."

During his speech, Carter was quoted by the Jewish Week as saying: "Israel will never find peace until it is willing to withdraw from its neighbor's land and give Palestinians their full rights."

The former US president refused a debate with Alan Dershowitz, who spoke after Carter left the hall. "He makes it sound so simple. You just give back the land, and peace will follow. Tell that to the residents of Sderot!" Dershowitz said.

Australian Jews call for action against sheikh

In Australia, Jewish community leaders called for action against a company that distributed DVDs in which a Muslim sheikh is seen describing Jews as "pigs" and urging holy war to be waged by Muslim children against the West, the Australian Jewish News (AJN) reported. 

"Jewish groups are calling for action against 1 Islam Productions, whose director, Subi AlShaik, claimed he was unaware of the hate messages when the AJN contacted him last week," the report said.

The President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Grahame Leonard, was quoted by the AJN as saying: "It's regrettable and most un-Australian that these activities are occurring and it clearly crosses the line in what can reasonable be construed as free speech." He called for prosecution of the sheikh under federal laws "if the sheikh leaves himself open" to charges.

Canada 'on verge' of donating millions to PA

The Canadian Federal Government is on the verge of "donating 12 million to 15 million dollars in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip," the Canadian Jewish News reported on Friday.

According to the report, the money will be transferred by "the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), an arm of the federal government."

The Canadian Jewish News quoted CIDA spokesman, Gregg Scott as saying: "Given the very difficult circumstances faced by the Palestinians, we're considering providing support."

Canada has also pledged 1.2 million dollars for the construction of a border crossing between Israel and Gaza, to encourage trade.

The CIDA spokesman added that "none of these funds have gone directly to Hamas."