According to cnn.com, President Jimmy Carter has told President Barack Obama to do one thing before he leaves office in January, recognize Palestinian statehood. President Carter is a proponent for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians and recently praised the Obama administration in a New York Times op-ed for its support for a "negotiated end to the conflict based on two states," but warned this work could be undone with the shift to a Republican administration. Carter wrote, "I am convinced that the United States can still shape the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before a change in presidents, but time is very short. The simple but vital step this administration must take before its term expires on January 20 is to grant American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine." The former president also called for the UN Security Council to pass a resolution "laying out the parameters for resolving the conflict." Carter is one of Israel's most vocal American critics. In his book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," he compared Israel's military occupation in the West Bank to the apartheid system in South Africa. Obama has also been critical of Israel, calling in 2009 for a complete freeze on the building of Israeli settlements. President-elect Donald Trump's position, however, has thrilled many supporters of Israel, as well as Israel's political right wing. As a candidate, Trump promised to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capitol of Israel and re-negotiate the Iran nuclear deal, which has been criticized by Israel's leaders.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/29/politics/jimmy-carter-palestine-op-ed/index.html