TEL AVIV, December 11, 2006 (WAFA)- Former U.S.President Jimmy Carter said that Israeli policy in the West Bank even worse instances of Apartheid than once held away in South Africa.

According to Israeli Haaretz Newspaper on Monday, Carter said "when Israel does occupy this territory deep within the West Bank, and connects the 200-or-so settlements with each other, with a road, and then prohibits the Palestinians from using that road, or in many cases even crossing the road, this perpetrates even worse instances of apartness, or Apartheid, than we witnessed even in South Africa."

As for his new book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid", Carter said it was meant to spark U.S. discussion of Israeli policies. "The hope is that my book will at least stimulate a debate, which has not existed in this country. There's never been any debate on this issue, of any significance."

Referring to the mounting criticism on his book, Carter has rejected the criticism of the book and its use of the word apartheid, according to the daily.

"The greatest commitment in my life has been trying to bring peace to Israel. Israel will never have peace until they agree to withdraw [from the territories]." Carter said according to the daily.

M.H.(10:35 P)(08:35 GMT)