Shimon Peres Quotes (176 Quotes)

We are going to take steps...immediate, unconditional steps -- to facilitate the life of the people in the territories in every possible way.

The decision for me is very difficult, it is so tied up with historic and other considerations. It will take me another day or two to decide.

When it becomes a bloody reality, we have to come together and look at what can be done to return to the order of peace, ... There is no alternative to it.

allow us to create an army without soldiers.

You can kill a thousand you can bring an end to life you cannot kill an idea. (on the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin)

On the other hand, they wanted to tax the windfalls or profits of the stock exchange. This time, I took the position of the rightists against it.

They thought that I was a man with reasonable judgment, so I was never under pressure from my parents; I could do whatever I wanted. I never had a negative word from them, nothing whatsoever.

I am speaking to you young Jewish boys and girls. You must be vigilant ... But now we have a strong army and we can defend ourselves.

We will know how to continue Israel's policy ... to continue Ariel Sharon's policies.

It is unacceptable under any circumstances to isolate northern Samaria (West bank). It is against all promises made by Israel,

offers nothing but killing and hate and murder.

I thought if I should be a colonel or a general, there would always be somebody above me, but if I should be a soldier, nobody will command me.

Labor has a first-rate team, ... I will be happy to be the first among equals, to bring people closer together. If Labor's people are as united as Labor's ideology, there is a good chance of winning the general elections. I'm not a man of 'me, me, me,' but a man of 'we.'

Any assassination is an assassination. It's cold, it's terrible. I'm against any capital punishment. Only the Lord has the right to take away life because he's the giver of life. And assassination stands against democracy, against civilization, against a civilized life of people. Alas, the situation in Lebanon is very chaotic and many innocent people lost their lives because they have a state within a state, an army within an army and the respect for life is not high enough.

Israel must appear as a country which has a deterrence,

Israel is moving from the realm of poetry to the realm of prose.

walk the last piece of the road for peace.

It is a very difficult decision as it is so tied up with historic and other considerations. It will take me a day or two to decide.

Television has made dictatorship impossible but democracy unbearable.

This was not a political meeting. They discussed building a special emergency fund for humanitarian aid for the Palestinian population.

It is not only the psychology of the people that makes them so exacting -- their geographical situation has been equally problematic.

Now, I learned soon enough, that among the three, two don't trust the third one - the third one is the government. Both industry and unions feel the government is a talking organization and a spending organization.

After my activities in the youth movement I returned to the kibbutz, but at that time, the party was already split between young and old.

you cannot shoot and negotiate at the same time because shooting and talking is like fire and water.

Many Syrians understand that the only option that exists is the option of peace, which means the option of compromise, ... Nobody can have 100 percent of his desires. He must compromise.

I wasn't taken by this definition, but I think his relevance to this situation depends upon the implementation of these declarations and that we should wait and see,

There is no shortage of anger in the Middle East, and to add anger to anger is not a contribution to peace, ... is really harassing the peace process.

The campaign against Saddam Hussein is a must. Inspections and inspectors are good for decent people, but dishonest people can overcome easily inspections and inspectors.

That was my first lesson from Ben-Gurion. Then I saw him making peace, and I saw him making war. He mobilized me before the war. The man was a very rare combination between a real intellectual and a born leader. There is a contradiction between the two.

areas where there is a concentration of suicide terrorists.

The crisis today looks very serious, maybe the solution is very near as well. We want to lower the flames of tension and fire in the Middle East. We want to do whatever we can so that the United States can build a coalition of her own needs and choice.

It looks like there was an organized attempt of terror and violence, and I think it is tragic. It leads nowhere,

While fighting terrorism, you should have a political horizon and conduct a dialogue,

Since the United Nations was established in 1945, there has never been a head of state that is a U.N. member state that publicly called for the elimination of another U.N. member state.

Leading the Jewish people is not easy -- we are a divided, obstinate, highly individualistic people who have cultivated faith, sharp wittedness and polemics to a very high level.

I would also like to have a comprehensive agreement, but I wouldn't want to have a comprehensive failure, ... That would be a catastrophe.

I think the better way to fight terrorism is through diplomatic channels with the help of the military,

This is the first time in the annals of Palestine that they will be completely in charge of their land. We wish them luck. Their betterment is in our interest. Their joy is not my pain.

I think it will be a mistake, ... Arafat outside the country will be more bitter and more negative and freer to do so.

I believe Sadat was an outstanding statesman, and Mister Begin raised to the occasion, and President Carter did an outstanding job -- worked hard day in and day out to overcome differences.

Well, textiles are out of business, people are going for high-tech today, ... But the textile business achieved its basic aim as a deterrent.

We are talking about human rights, ... The first human right is to remain alive, and Israel is in danger. We are exercising the most important human right.

They are not as courageous or brave as you think. They are cowards and if they will see strength, they will retreat, ... The minute you appear determined and strong, you will win.

In our view, the meetings can start between our security officials and theirs, in order to carry out the first stage of the Mitchell report,

I think with effort and patience it is possible to bridge (the gaps),

We never said that we would introduce nuclear weapons. Israel repeatedly declared that we are never going to introduce nuclear weapons - Israel has never made any test of nuclear weapons and we are very careful about it.

I'm sure that history will justify our choice.

Why cross and ocean when you can cross a river Why should we sail to Washington when we can meet right away 10 miles from here.

I see an opportunity that we must not miss. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I hadn't, because of political party considerations or inconvenience, lent a hand to the move ... Sharon is leading.

Yesterday there was an attempt to make a decision to bring down the Palestinian Authority and in effect the Israeli policy would lean on power with no political hope, ... Since the Labor Party's demand for an organized debate on such as essential question was rejected there was no other option but not to participate in the vote.