Former US president, Mr Jimmy Carter, last night defended former Irish president, Mrs Mary Robinson, from allegations of anti-Semitism made against her on a university campus in the US.
Ms Robinson is due to be a commencement speaker at a graduation ceremony and receive an honorary doctorate at Emory University, Atlanta, in May.
However, over 1,000 students and some academic staff have signed a petition accusing the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of being anti-Semitic.
In a statement issued last night, Mr Carter expressed his hope that the Emory community would welcome her "very warmly" when she travels to Atlanta next month. Mr Carter said he and the Carter Centre had worked with Ms Robinson. "We have been heartened by her leadership and courage in speaking out for the voiceless in our world. The Emory community is privileged to have as commencement speaker such an eminent scholar, activist, and diplomat as Mrs Robinson."
Prof Kenneth Stein, the director of the Middle East institute at Emory, had questioned what he said was Mrs Robinson's belief that "the root cause of the Arab-Israeli conflict is the occupation".
Earlier this week Mr Jim Wagner, president of Emory University, acknowledged the concern of the university's Jewish community over the selection of Mrs Robinson as this year's commencement speaker, but said the administration is working with individuals and student groups to address these concerns and was "confident the parties would reach an agreement acceptable to all".
In last night's statement, Mrs Robinson said: "I had a further conversation with President Wagner of Emory University this morning who reiterated very warmly that he and his colleagues looked forward very much to welcoming me as commencement speaker on the occasion of receiving an honorary doctorate from the university."