Brazil was right to recognise Palestinian statehood and can play a significant part in the Middle East peace process, according to Jimmy Carter, the former US president.
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| Former US President Jimmy Carter signs copies of his latest book 'White House Diary' Photo: GETTY |
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva caused anger in Israel and the United States earlier this month by officially acknowledging Palestinian sovereignty over territory in the West Bank and Gaza occupied by Israel since 1967.
But according to Mr Carter the decision should be welcomed and Brazil could have a growing role to play in the region.
"I am very happy to see that Brazil recognised the Palestinian state with the 1967 borders," he said in an interview with the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo.
"We cannot count on the United States alone to bring peace, since it agrees with almost everything that Israel does.
"Brazil can help because it has a lot of influence among developing countries. Brazil can be one of the leaders of this process."
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The eight-year reign of President Lula, who will be replaced by Dilma Rousseff on January 1, has seen Brazil's influence on world affairs increase, particularly in relation to the Middle East.
Brazil has been involved in unofficial "back channel" negotiations between Israel and Syria and earlier this year brokered a proposed deal for Iran to send low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for research reactor fuel to be supplied later.
More than 100 states, mostly from Asia, Africa and the Middle East, have recognised Palestinian statehood and several from South America, including Argentina, have followed Brazil's lead in the past two weeks.
Mr Carter also said that he did not think the publication of leaked cables sent by US diplomats on the website WikiLeaks would do lasting damage.
But he admitted: "The diplomats have to be more careful with language and maybe leaders won't want to share what they think with the State Department."
People gather to welcome home the Mavi Marmara, the flagship of the ill-fated Gaza flotilla attacked by Israel this summer, in Istanbul, Turkey, Dec. 26, 2010. The Mavi Marmara departed from Turkey in May to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aids. On May 31, Israel raided the ship in international waters before it could reach its destination and killed nine activists aboard. (Xinhua/Chen Ming)
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