Ehud Barak Quotations

There is a thin line between peace of the brave and peace of the hostage... between compromise - even calculated risk - and irresponsibility and capitulation.

If I were a Palestinian of the right age, I'd eventually join one of the terrorist organizations.

I delivered lectures, and I was also a consultant for international companies in finance, both private equity and big venture capital funds.

I don't do anything to impress anyone, quite successfully I can tell you.

Iran poses the most serious long-term threat to regional stability.

Since the Six-Day War, the whole world, which is the real arena of battle between us and the Palestinians, believes that Israel is right in regard to procedure, namely problems and disputes should be solved around the negotiating table.

I'm such a failed politician that all of my rivals have disappeared, on both sides.

I'm no wealthier than Bibi Netanyahu or Arik Sharon. I don't feel that I'm more hedonistic than Ehud Olmert, or Yitzhak Rabin or Shimon Peres.

In Israel, generally speaking, politics is much more familiar than any other place. We all know each other.

We want peace, but not at any price.

the perception in the world was that they tried to strangle us. In Lebanon we violated this basic rule and we were unable to hold what we took.

We are a government that does not deal with niceties of language and packaging, it deals with action, ... I have no doubt that ... we will continue on this path and, in the end, the feeling will change as well.

We are at the start of a very intensive effort and, in a way, the last one in this round to try to reach a breakthrough,

We are at the Rubicon and no one can cross it alone,

There is no peace without a price, just as there is no peace at any cost,

We found in Egypt a listening ear to the complexity of the problem, ... I clarified that we are ready to do what is necessary to achieve an agreement, but we have important interests, and an agreement will only be achieved if the other side demonstrates openness, seriousness and responsibility.

We have so many other things to do, rather than to be deployed along the border for another generation or two, ... It's time to make a decision. I feel the opportunity is clear also to President Assad.

We accepted American ideas that each side will examine its own activities, ... that our security teams will sit together to clarify what happened, and then we'll sit with the American partners to see what happened and to try and make sure that better coordination will be in the future and that such events could not be repeated in the future.

There are no negotiations, ... There are no discussions about renewing negotiations and first of all, we have demanded that first there must be a dramatic change in the violence.

We really do see it as the government's obligation on the day after the withdrawal from Lebanon to promise two things, ... the first that the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) will really be deployed on the border, and anyone that dares think to hurt us will get what he deserves with all our might.

The real cause is Arafat, ... paid with the blood of his people.

But at the end of the day, when the military command looks up, it sees us — the minister of defense and the prime minister. When we look up, we see nothing but the sky above us.

I want to study, to write to live and have a good time.

I don't feel opportunistic ever, in anything.

I can tell you I also smoked cigars 10 years before, and the watch, which is a Patek Philippe - it was my former wife who bought it for me as a gift when I completed my military service. What is all of this about anyway? I'm no wealthier than Bibi Netanyahu or Arik Sharon. I don't feel that I'm more hedonistic than Ehud Olmert, or Yitzhak Rabin or Shimon Peres.

The Left is acting like a young child, saying 'I want peace'... A child says 'I want candy right away,' an adult takes all of the factors into account and understands who he's dealing with.

Israel is surrounded by a raging sea, parts of which are not willing to accept us as a partner with equal rights among the nations. The reality we live in presents us with profound challenges, the need to effectively use all of our resources, and the need to prepare for any development, near or far. The IDF will protect the security and the future of the state. The IDF will provide the response when the order is given.

At this place, Jews have prayed throughout the generations, and it is fitting that the message of brotherhood should go out from here.

The Palestinians are like crocodiles, the more you give them meat, they want more.

If we thought that instead of 200 Palestinian fatalities, 2,000 dead would put an end to the fighting at a stroke, we would use much more force....

We are talking about a major change in reality that has to come about, ... We are not idiots. If it turns out that this situation where there is no partner (in peace) remains the same, then we will know what to do.

Until the wolf shall lay with lamb, we'd better be the wolves.

But I should tell you honestly that this administration under President Obama is doing in regard to our security more than anything that I can remember in the past.

The prime minister calls on the international community to continue and pressure the Iranian authorities to free the innocent prisoners.

We need to make sure that if it's possible, under these difficult circumstances, we can reach an agreement, which maintains our safety and interests. We must do everything to make that happen,

When the time comes, I hope we'll be able to meet. It takes two to tango. I am ready, the arena is ready, maybe the dance instructor is ready, ... We have to find the opportunity to begin.

legitimate movement that believes in security and peace; they have differences of emphasis and approach from ours.

lay its hands on the lowly murderers and will punish them with all severity of the law.

Leah will be greatly missed and her memory will be with us always, ... We embrace today ... the whole family.

Shimon Peres is far preferable to Sharon and Netanyahu.

sign an agreement that I don't think is good.

Since Arafat has wasted much of this time in dragging his feet ... we have very serious doubts about the seriousness of his intentions to reach an arrangement,

shaping the overall strategy and the details of how to move forward.

maybe there will be a need for a few dozens of foreign observers.

point of equilibrium to provide us with a stable peace for generations to come.

Only the president of the United States can decide if and when the time is right for a summit between us and the Palestinians, ... If and when all the conditions are right, we will be ready.

If we don't achieve this, but together with the Palestinians we reach a conclusion that the solution is a set of long-term interim agreements on most of the issues, this would be an important achievement,

I don't believe there will be an agreement by the elections,

I believe the most complicated issue is Jerusalem ... refugees -- not an easy one -- and as of now borders and settlements and a security regimen have not been fully solved,

I believe the most complicated issue is Jerusalem , ... But I believe that if there will be a breakthrough on Jerusalem, I believe that other issues could be pushed forward in an effective way

I have always said that when we go forward, there will be attempts to torpedo the process.

Friends, this is a time of emergency, and in an emergency, brothers walk together,

If a single crack will appear, Arafat will enter into it and crack the whole system,

If it is possible to work out a realistic plan for genuine policies (toward peace) then a unity government could be successful,

He doesn't have the character or the will or the ability, ... He doesn't have the qualities to bring about the painful decisions that will take the challenge proper, and as a result of it unfortunately we have to do it painfully and unilaterally.

We can just hope at a certain time he will be back, ... I would not exaggerate the immediate consequences of such a step, but of course we regret it.

Today it is clear to all, even the current prime minister, that you, Yitzhak, chose the right path.

There is no failure, even though the level of expectation is very low.

The people of the Middle East are ready for the dawn of a new era, ... I believe it is our duty, leaders of all parties, to pave the way.

We have to act in such a way that everyone comes out a winner.

We looked for an equilibrium point that would provide a peace for generations, ... but unfortunately Arafat somehow hesitated to take the historic decisions.

It calls into question the seriousness of Arafat's intentions to implement ... understandings and decrease violence in the region,

It is clear that the Syrians would like to have a reassessment of the situation. We fully respect them, ... I believe the negotiations will resume in the following weeks. It may take four or six weeks, but I believe they will resume.

I think that the United States can contribute to the process more as a facilitator than as a kind of policeman, judge and arbitrator,

It is in our hands, perhaps, for the first time in many years, to bring an end to the conflict between us and our neighbors.

It is my intention to be everyone's prime minister. Whatever the differences of opinion between us, we are brothers,

It is a terrible, terrible blow to peace. Even when Palestinians are killed it is a blow. But I have to say that, unfortunately, this time it is the Palestinians side that has initiated the violence.

Our children have to be educated in the values of equality, freedom of choice and democracy,

Peacemaking must be a two-way street. Each side must take into consideration the concerns and sensitivities of the other,

peace at any price, but also no peace without paying a certain price -- a price that is heart-rending and difficult to accept.

It doesn't mean that the whole thing is closed. I believe that (Arafat) felt very clearly that the world as a whole expects him to move, and that somehow the time had come to put an end to the conflict of 100 years between us and the Palestinians, and there would be no better opportunity.

I tell you, Yitzhak, that you are fallen dead but your spirit and will are stronger than ever, ... So today I pledge to you, to all our neighbors, and to the whole world, to travel the course you charted and to finish the journey you have led towards security and peace in the Middle East.

I think I can say, your Holiness, that your coming here today ... is a climax of this historic journey of healing,

Maybe I made a few or maybe many tactical mistakes, ... but I did not make a mistake in the very essence of what I've ... chosen to do, namely to leave no stone unturned in order to find a way to put an end to this conflict, at the same time to be open-eyed enough to realize that it takes two to tango.

The army will stand cocked and ready to inflict a painful blow, if necessary, against anyone who tries to harm us,

without an agreement ... because after serious discussions we discovered the other side did not act like real partners for peace.

We must part from the Palestinians. It is one of our highest priorities to do so in an agreement, but we will have to prepare to do so without an agreement if it becomes clear that the Palestinians are not interested in an agreement,

were united in their concern for the Iranian Jewish community.

Time is of the essence for the whole process. We cannot sit idly and wait for the whole process to be solved somehow,

We came to tell you we are not afraid,

We are not talking about a miraculous solution.

We are determined to turn every stone to find a way to go forward without risking our security or vital interest,

We are determined to push it forward, if there is a possibility of having an agreement,

We are determined to do everything we can

We are realistic enough to know that nobody can have 100 percent of their dreams,

tough diplomatic battle. It is impossible to predict how long it will last or the results.

The real question is who will lead the government and to where ... and on this question a unity government headed by Netanyahu is not the answer,

We came here to recommit to his way, we came here to tell him, 'Yitzhak, your way has won out, and we came here to say to whoever believes it possible to move us from the path of Yitzhak, 'We are not afraid, we are not afraid,'

We will go to the United States with five red lines, and we intend to come back with them,

You have done more than anyone else to bring about the historic change in the attitude of the church towards the Jewish people, ... Your coming here is a climax of this historic journey of healing.

There is only one poll that is important. That is the actual casting of votes.

The party must unite, to place aside all personal considerations and to stand around a leadership headed by Shimon Peres,

We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to reinvigorate the process,

Both sides have suffered enough, ... It's about time to find a way to nurture mutual respect and to make peace together.

The government under my authority will not accept any agreement in any form that will recognize ... the right of return. Period ... I do not intend to sign any document that will transfer sovereignty over the Temple Mount to Palestinians,

We have achieved our goals at this summit, ... We have a major concentrated effort to put an end of the violence of the last two weeks.

We fully realize that on the way to peace we will have to make compromises, but it is too early to define what kind of compromises, ... We will define it once we realize what President Assad is ready to give.

Together with the president of the United States let us be able to bring peace and security to our people, ... This is an opportunity; a window of opportunity that will not reoccur.

Together with the president of the United States, let us be able to bring peace and security to our people, ... This is an opportunity, a window of opportunity that will not reoccur.

Within four-and-a-half months, I am determined to put an end to this tragedy in Lebanon ... and to bring the boys home.