Jimmy Carter urges Barack Obama to restage Camp David

Jimmy Carter has urged Barack Obama to invite Israeli and Palestinian leaders to Camp David to create a lasting peace settlement.

Former President Jimmy Carter lamented the Obamas administration’s hands-off ­approach to the Middle East.

Former US president Jimmy Carter has urged Barack Obama to invite Israeli and Palestinian leaders to Camp David in the hope of forging a lasting Middle East peace settlement and lamented the Obama administration’s hands-off ­approach to the region.

In an interview with The Weekend Australian, Mr Carter encouraged the US to “lead by example” as a “champion of peace” in the world but also accept that its economic, political and cultural ­hegemony increasingly would be challenged by China and India.

“I don’t have any doubt if the President invited the leaders of the Palestinians and the leaders of ­Israel to come to Camp David, or some other isolated place, it would be almost impossible for them to refuse,” the 90-year-old said.

“The US has reached the lowest point in its ­involvement and its influence between the Palestinians and the Israelis. We have had no active role to play there for the first time in recent history.

“I would like very much to see the US get reinvolved because … the European governments who could play a role are still deferring to the potential of America getting reinvolved.”

As US, Israeli and Palestinian relations ­“deteriorated” markedly, Mr Carter said there was little hope for peace unless Mr Obama ­became directly involved — rather than leaving it to Secretary of State John Kerry — and put the authority of the White House ­behind a renewed peace ­effort.

In 1978, Mr Carter brokered the peace accord between Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat at Camp David. He said this hands-on negotiating style sometimes could pay dividends.

The interview with the former president (1977-81) coincides with the publication of his book A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety (Simon & Schuster). It recounts his life as a farmer, navy engineer, governor and president, and discusses policy issues at length.

Mr Carter, a political outsider with a sunny disposition, promised to restore integrity to the White House after the Watergate scandal. But he says he could not be elected today.

“It wouldn’t be possible ­because, unfortunately, the American political system has been turned over to the influence of money. You can’t expect to get into the presidential campaign without being able to raise several hundred million dollars.”

Mr Carter, who often shared his views on issues with presidents who followed him, is distant from Mr Obama. “I’ve had a friendly and polite and proper relationship with all the presidents, but I haven’t had a warm relationship in recent years.”

Mr Carter spent his post-presidential years mediating disputes, overseeing elections and working to eradicate poverty and disease.

“There were other more notable things I did when I had the full authority of the American government behind me that I couldn’t do now but … my time since the White House has been best for me,” he said.