Ariel Sharon Israel Quotations

Israel may have the right to put others on trial, but certainly no one has the right to put the Jewish people and the State of Israel on trial.

But there's one thing we are not going to compromise at all: when it comes to security of Israeli citizens and the State of Israel, there are not going to be any compromises - not now and not in the future.

Netanyahu is pressured easily, gets into a panic, and loses his senses... to run a country like Israel a leader needs to have reason and judgment and nerves of steel, two traits he does not have.

To our Palestinian neighbours, I assure you that we have a genuine intention to respect your right to live independently and in dignity. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you and control your fate.

Both during the elections and as Prime Minister, I have repeatedly and publicly said that I support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel.

As a Jew, it is my historic responsibility to defend the Jewish people. I feel this responsibility for the survival of the Jewish people. We're not going to accept any decision by anybody else about security of the State of Israel. It is our role and only our role.

I cannot say that the attitude of the United Nations always is for the Israeli attitude. Israel, I think, has been under severe attacks by members of the United Nations many times.

If there will be a serious Palestinian prime minister who makes a 100 percent effort to end terrorism, then we can have peace. Each side has to take steps. If terror continues, there will not be an independent Palestinian state. Israel will not accept it, if terror continues.

Israel has many hopes, and faces extreme dangers. The most prominent danger is Iran, which is making every effort to acquire nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and establishing an enormous terror network together with Syria in Lebanon.

Legitimate steps of self-defence which Israel takes in its war against Palestinian terror - actions which any sovereign state is obligated to undertake to ensure the security of its citizens - are presented by those who hate Israel as aggressive, Nazi-like steps.

We do not build new Jewish communities in Samaria, Judea and Gaza. The United States has never accepted our building of communities or of the fence. Yet, I've managed to develop relations between Israel and the United States even though President Bush never supported settlements.

As one who participated in all the wars of the state of Israel, I saw the horror of wars. I saw the fear of wars. I saw my best friends being killed in battles. I was seriously injured twice.

As long as I'm needed. I'll be ready to serve. I look forward with optimism. We need the Jews here. Move to Israel! Move to Israel!

Israel is a wonderful country. It's a beautiful country. It is ours. But it is a country with 10,000 problems that we have to solve and deal.

It is impossible to have a Jewish, democratic state and at the same time to control all of Eretz Israel. If we insist on fulfilling the dream in its entirety, we are liable to lose it all. Everything. That is where the extremist path takes us.

When I was born here on one of the farms in Israel, my childhood, I never thought for one day that we will not be living together with Arabs.

We are together with the British and Americans because one should fight terror. But we are not going to pay the price for it by endangering Israel and its citizens.

Close to 80 percent of all terrorist activity in Samaria was directed and financed either by Hizbullah or the Iranians. Iran continues to increase its involvement in terror attacks inside Israel, particularly through a small but radical minority of Israeli Arabs which Iran supports and directs.

And Israel, being a tiny, small country, of course has interest to strengthen - we have interest to strengthen our relations with other countries, mostly countries that were hostile for many, many years.

Peace should provide security. It should be durable. I'm ready to go far in making painful concessions. But there is one thing I will never make any concessions on and that's the security of the Israeli citizens and the very existence of the state of Israel. The Palestinians are losing time.

I cannot deny that I have doubts, reservations and fears. However, I have come to the conclusion that in the present regional and international reality, Israel must act with courage to accept the political plan which I described.

It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion, clearly and courageously, a certain number of facts that are forgotten with time. The first of these is that there is no Zionism, colonialization, or Jewish State without the eviction of the Arabs and the expropriation of their lands.

Aliyah is the central goal of the State of Israel.

I vow that if I was just an Israeli civilian and I met a Palestinian I would burn him and I would make him suffer before killing him.

Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and theAmericans know it.

Everybody has to move, run and grab as many (Palestinian) hilltops as they can to enlarge the (Jewish) settlements because everything we take now will stay ours...Everything we don't grab will go to them.

You cannot like the word, but what is happening is an occupation -- to hold 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation. I believe that is a terrible thing for Israel and for the Palestinians.

Netanyahu is pressured easily, gets into a panic, and loses his senses, ... to run a country like Israel a leader needs to have reason and judgment and nerves of steel, two traits he does not have.

I feel the pain of the family and I wish that the wounded will heal, ... Israel will not yield and will continue fighting terror until it is destroyed just like we are fighting it now.

undermine the character of the state of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

It is clear that if the Palestinians do not begin to take vigorous action against terrorism, Israel will be compelled to step up military activity that is designed to protect the lives of Israeli citizens.

You all know me, you know that when I fight for something right and correct, I carry it out, ... I will do that also on the issue of separating from Gaza, and a few small settlements in Samaria. It is imperative for Israel and its continuing development, and that's what will be done.

You have proven, Mr. President, your ongoing, deep and sincere friendship for the state of Israel and to the Jewish people,

The danger that Israel will get hit is very small. That is our estimation,

While the state of Israel is interested in advancing toward a settlement with the Palestinians, there will be no diplomatic progress, no progress, until the Palestinians take strong action to eliminate the terrorist organizations and their infrastructures in the Palestinian Authority areas,

You can not like the word, but what is happening is an occupation -- to hold 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation. I believe that is a terrible thing for Israel and for the Palestinians.

We have decided to suspend the offensive operations that we launched last week in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel ,

The timing the US chose to announce its decision to give Israel the dangerous F-16 jets is really strange. It seems as though the US is telling Israel

Israel would very much like to promote a peace process, but because of the utter failure of the Palestinian Authority in the struggle against terrorism ... we will not be able to move forward as we would have liked,

Israel wants to start the peace process as early as possible.

Israel is the only country in the world that is ready to make concessions, even though it hasn't lost a single war,

Israel is prepared to make painful concessions for a true peace. However, the government under my leadership will not be seduced into believing false promises which will endanger the security of the state of Israel,

Israel is consulting with international figures about the legality of a terror organization in an election,

Israel is being asked to pay by giving up a strategic asset while getting nothing in return.

Israel is a special country and to lead it one needs a level head and nerves of steel. He (Netanyahu) has neither of those,

Israel does not open wars, ... We know who has brought it on us -- Arafat is responsible for everything that is happening here.

Israel cannot afford that an Israeli citizen will not be able to visit part of his country, not to speak about the holiest place for the Jewish people.

The riots are part of Arafat's policy of applying pressure on Israel and the Americans when he doesn't get what he wants.

The state of Israel proved that it is willing to make painful concessions in order to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians, ... I call on the Palestinian leadership to show determination and leadership and to eliminate terror, violence and the culture of hatred from our relations.

the state of Israel has embarked on a new path ... of domestic unity.

The most important test the Palestinian leadership will face is in fulfilling their commitments to put an end to terror and its infrastructure, ... Until they do so, Israel will know how to defend itself.

Now it is the Palestinians turn to prove their desire for peace, ... The most important test the Palestinian leaders will face is in fulfilling their commitment to putting an end to terror and its infrastructures, eliminate the anarchic regime of armed gangs and cease the incitement and indoctrination of hatred toward Israel and the Jews.

Now it is the Palestinians' turn to prove their desire for peace, ... The most important test the Palestinian leaders will face is in fulfilling their commitment to putting an end to terror and its infrastructures, eliminate the anarchic regime of armed gangs and cease the incitement and indoctrination of hatred toward Israel and the Jews.

Any changes in relations to Jews affect not only ties to Israel but Moscow's ability to carry out its policies in other regions of the world,

Areas that were given to the Palestinians -- there, I think the situation is irreversible and I don't think we have to re-enter. That doesn't mean Israel will not take steps against people who find shelter there.

This plan is good for Israel in any future scenario. We are reducing the day-to-day friction and its victims on both sides,

On behalf of the government and the state of Israel, I would like to express condolences on the passing of Pope John Paul II, and to share in the mourning of millions of Christians and believers in both the state of Israel and around the Christian world. Pope John Paul II was a man of peace and a friend of the Jewish people, who was familiar with the uniqueness of the Jewish people and who worked for an historic reconciliation between the peoples and for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican in late 1993. ...Yesterday, the world lost one of the most important leaders of our generation, whose great contribution to rapprochement and unity between peoples, understanding and tolerance will be with us for many years.

I have outlined to Gen. Powell the steps I will take if calm is restored in order to ease the economic conditions of the Palestinian population in the Palestinian Authority territories, ... One thing will be clear. Israel will not be negotiating under the pressure of terror and violence.

in its current format is unable to lead Israel to its national goals.

I believe that disobedience is the worst thing that can happen, ... It is an attempt to bring about the destruction of the state of Israel and it must be prevented in any way. My instruction in these instances is clear: Political protest -- yes; political violence -- not under any circumstances.

hearts of the American people and the people of Israel are bonded together. We all are holding hands and we all pray together.

The enemy of Israel and the enemy of the free world.

The citizens of Israel deserve leadership which acts, first and foremost, for the good of the public, and not for the narrow political interest,

The disengagement has set out its way, ... The government decided today that, by the end of 2005, Israel intends to leave the Gaza Strip and four isolated settlements in Samaria.