It’s important to accept his plea, while at the same time making sure that he follows up on his pledge by retracting those nasty comments he made about Israel.

It is cheap word play.

“… for any words or deeds of mine that may have done so.”

“may have done”?

What does that mean?

Does he accept his responsibility for stigmatizing Israel, or doesn’t he?

What he is saying, in fact, is “if I caused any damage, I’m sorry”. The problem is the “if”.

“If” suggests doubt. It means that he, Carter, is not so sure if indeed, words he wrote or said, deeds he committed, caused damage to Israel’s good name.

When genuine forgiveness is asked for, the person needs to feel remorse, in order to make amends to those he harmed. Asking for forgiveness means, at least in the Judaic code of ethics, that the supplicant acknowledges, openly, publicly, and fully, his responsibility for having done wrong, having slandered the good name of a person, or a people or a nation.

Carter’s formulation does not meet that onus. In this request for forgiveness, there is no regret and contrition, no understanding of what he has wrought forth, persistently, repeatedly, insistently. This is a prevarication, a public relations stunt, a mockery of the idea of “al het”.

That said, I do think he owes the Iranian people an apology as well for his naivete in dealing with Iranian Islamism both during his presidency and since that time. His administration repeatedly characterized the tyrant Khomeini as “an Iranian Ghandi,” as “a saint,” and as “a man of impeccable integrity.” He faltered in his support of the Shah, a stalwart U.S. ally who, whatever his flaws, was a thousand times more responsible internationally and a thousand times more compassionate towards the Iranian people.

Probably the least effective president of the post-war period. And a divisive, misguided persona as ex-president.

In short, I am not a fan of Carter.