More Quotes
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas: “There will be no third armed Intifada. Never. We don’t want to use terror. We don’t want to use force. We don’t want to use weapons. We want to use diplomacy. We want to use politics. We want to use negotiations. We want to use peaceful resistance. That’s it.”
“…Palestine now for me is ’67 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is now and forever … This is Palestine for me. I am (a) refugee, but I am living in Ramallah. I believe that (the) West Bank and Gaza is Palestine and the other parts (are) Israel.”
French President Francois Hollande: “We must make sure that through pressure and later through negotiations, Iran renounces its intention to have access to nuclear weapons… We are prepared to vote in favour of more sanctions, as many sanctions as necessary… It is our duty to put pressure on Iran and to call for more sanctions. We will continue to do so in the coming weeks and months.”
Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak: “A militarized nuclear Iran means the end of any conceivable non-proliferation regime. Saudi Arabia will become a nuclear power within weeks, Turkey within a few years, and Egypt will follow suit shortly after. The countdown towards nuclear materials falling into the hands of terrorists will begin. Iran will revamp its exportation of terror (in Afghanistan, India, Yemen, Somalia to name but a few) while emboldening their proxies; encouraging them to act with greater assertiveness...
Diplomacy efforts continue, and sanctions are both unprecedented and genuinely biting. Unfortunately based on experience, we are highly skeptical about the chances of success. We, all the leaders of the world, are using the same language. ‘We are determined to prevent Iran from becoming a military-nuclear power.’ All options are on the table to prevent Iran from crossing the point of no return. We expect all those who say it to mean it; we mean it.”
full speech here.
Former top White House adviser and peace negotiator Dennis Ross: “Those who say that the two-state solution is dead are not serving the interests of peace and certainly not serving the interests of Israel and the Palestinians … There’s no such thing as a one-state solution as it relates to peace. That’s a contradiction in terms. The idea that one could somehow ignore the demographic reality is anathema to me. The idea that you can somehow wish away the Palestinians is an illusion.”
(Haaretz)
“It’s not just my decision .. We need a bloc and a joint decision on a candidate for prime minister… I’m at a point where I want to know this won’t be just about making a statement but doing what Israel needs – a dramatic change. Six months ago, my party chose another chairman. I accepted the democratic decision and announced I was leaving the Knesset. I have not engaged in partisan politics since. A few months later, circumstances created a situation where many anticipate my decision to return (to public life). It’s not just my own personal decision. It doesn’t matter what we think of ourselves, what is important is what the public thinks of us and the test is how that is translated into victory.”
(source: Ynetnews)
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “A joining of forces will give us the strength to defend Israel from military threats, and the strength to spearhead social and economic changes in the country… We face challenges, and this is the time to join forces for the sake of Israel’s future. Which is why Likud and Yisrael Beytenu will run together, on a single ballot… We will ask the public for the mandate to lead the State of Israel with strength in the coming years. This will greatly strengthen the government, the prime minister, and the country… A clear mandate will allow me to focus on what’s really important.”
(source: Times of Israel)