More Quotes
“We are sitting here in Jerusalem, but our thoughts are focused on what is happening in Lausanne … There is yet to be a clear picture of what is happening there, and reports are contradicting, but we are of course greatly concerned by the possibility that Iran would achieve nuclear capabilities.” (Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin, 01/04/2015)
“Quite a few new Knesset members are sitting here today … Bear in mind that this is a glass house. The walls of this chamber are transparent, not only to the eyes of the public, which are turned to this place, but so that your own eyes will be turned to the nation. To the public that you are representing, to the people whose servant you now are.”
“Don’t forget for a moment who sent you here … Public trust is the most valuable asset in a democracy – and that trust has now been given to each one of you.” (Israeli President Reuven Rubi Rivlin speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the 20th Knesset, 31/03/2015)
“In Switzerland, a very bad deal is expected to be signed with Iran, a country with an extremist and ruthless regime, which has succeeded in fooling the West.”
“Iran is sponsoring murderous and subversive terrorism, and has been negatively involved in every conflict in the Middle East … even today, Iran is involved – of course, for the bad – in the fighting in Yemen and was responsible for bringing down a Pro-Western government.” (Israeli Minister of Defence Moshe Yaalon, 29/03/2015)
“This agreement, as it appears, confirms all of our concerns and even more so. Even as meetings proceed on this dangerous agreement, Iran’s proxies in Yemen are overrunning large sections of that country and are attempting to seize control of the strategic Bab-el-Mandeb straits which would affect the naval balance and the global oil supply.
After the Beirut-Damascus-Baghdad axis, Iran is carrying out a pincers movement in the south as well in order to take over and conquer the entire Middle East. The Iran-Lausanne-Yemen axis is very dangerous for humanity and needs to be stopped.” (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a cabinet meeting, 29/03/2015)
“Efforts to de-legitimise Israel will not desist soon, but we will rise to the challenge and we’ll try to ensure red lines are not crossed.
We will ensure the legitimacy of Zionism and Israel’s fundamental right to exist is not the basis for debate about the Israeli government’s policies, regardless of your views on them.” (We Believe in Israel Director Luke Akehurst in the Jewish News, 26/03/2015)
“Citizens of Israel, I would like to thank you for the trust that you have given me to lead the country at this time. I see myself as prime minister of each and every one of you, those who voted for me and those who did not. I will work to heal the rifts that opened between the various segments of society during the election campaign.
Now we must all put the elections behind us and focus on that which unites us. In the new government that will be formed, I am committed to continue on this path, that of a Jewish and democratic state that upholds equality of rights for all its citizens regardless of religion, race or gender – thus it has been and thus it will be.
The next government will be faced with two challenges: Building up our security and improving our social welfare. Already in the first budget that we will pass, we will include a series of steps designed to lower housing costs, lower food prices and dismantle the monopolies that impede competition. And regarding security, it is a foundation of our existence, our future and the hope for peace with our neighbors. Our hand is extended in peace to our Palestinian neighbors. The people of Israel know that a true peace, our very future, will be assured only if Israel remains strong in sprit as well as in power. One need only look at the disturbances around us to understand this clear reality.
We very much appreciate, and will take care to preserve, our alliance with the best of our friends, the United States; however, we will continue to work to prevent the agreement with Iran, an agreement that endangers us, our neighbors and the world. We see eye to eye with many of our Arab neighbors regarding the danger posed by Iran and we also view positively the benefit that this new partnership could have for the region.” (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accepting the task of forming the government from President Reuven Rivlin, 25/03/2015)