Meanwhile, former President Jimmy Carter has weighed in on the war in Lebanon. Writing in the Washington Post, President Carter said: “It is inarguable that Israel has a right to defend itself against attacks on its citizens, but it is inhumane and counterproductive to punish civilian populations in the illogical hope that somehow they will blame Hamas and Hezbollah for provoking the devastating response.” Carter went on to write: “There will be no substantive and permanent peace for any peoples in this troubled region as long as Israel is […] occupying Arab lands and oppressing the Palestinians… A major impediment to progress is Washington’s strange policy that dialogue on controversial issues will be extended only as a reward for subservient behavior and will be withheld from those who reject U.S. assertions.”