Ehud Olmert Quotes

Many Palestinians have been living for decades in camps, disconnected from the environment in which they grew up, wallowing in poverty, in neglect, alienation, bitterness, and a deep, unrelenting sense of humiliation.

- Ehud Olmert

Deep, Been, Which, Alienation

The military operation in Lebanon was the most successful military operation in recent Israeli history. Many in Israel don't recognise that.

- Ehud Olmert

History, Most, Many, Operation

As one of the participants in the Aqaba summit, I can testify that Israel fully expected the Palestinian Authority's newly reorganized and trained security agencies to take harsh action against the rejectionists who sought to wreck the peace process.

- Ehud Olmert

Against, Harsh, Trained, Newly

As mayor of Jerusalem, I wanted the government to invest the necessary funds in order to unite the city in an effective manner with full rights for the Palestinians living in Jerusalem, so the world would say, 'Okay, it can work.'

- Ehud Olmert

Living, Okay, Necessary, Funds

There is a Western world. There is America. There is Great Britain and Germany and France and Russia and China and other nations. I doubt that there is one country amongst those I mentioned which has a desire to see Iran, with its fundamentalist, Islamic, extremist government, possessing nuclear weapons.

- Ehud Olmert

Country, Other, Britain, Possessing

I don't know that there is one serious American representative that will advise Israel to sit with a terrorist government and negotiate with them.

- Ehud Olmert

American, Will, Negotiate, Advise

I would never agree to an exclusive Muslim sovereignty over areas that are religiously important to Jews and Christians.

- Ehud Olmert

Over, Muslim, Christians, Sovereignty

I'm not saying it was wrong to intervene in Kosovo.

- Ehud Olmert

Saying, Wrong, Intervene, Kosovo

The United States is a superpower whose influence reaches across oceans and beyond borders.

- Ehud Olmert

United States, Across, Oceans

Terrorist groups and their extremist state sponsors cannot be fought with kid gloves and flowery words of persuasion. As the U.S. has displayed in Afghanistan and in Iraq, only a vigilant and determined campaign of confrontation can deter and obstruct them.

- Ehud Olmert

Kid, Fought, Terrorist, Flowery

I am focused on what needs to be done for the people of Israel. Period. I do not pity myself and I do not pat myself on the shoulder. I get up in the morning full of energy to fulfill my mission.

- Ehud Olmert

Needs, Pat, Period, Shoulder

For me, Arik Sharon - I remember his courage and inspiration. I want to remember him the way he really was, not as an aging 80-year-old man living in bed helpless and unconscious.

- Ehud Olmert

Bed, Unconscious, Sharon, Helpless

We are the greatest experts in the world in criticizing our country, but no one loves his country more than the Israelis. No one.

- Ehud Olmert

Country, More, Criticizing, Israelis

Israel is prepared for a compromise. The majority of Israelis understand this compromise will be serious, will be meaningful, and will be painful.

- Ehud Olmert

Will, Prepared, Israel, Israelis

Saudi Arabia is the country that in the end will determine the ability of the Arabs to reach a compromise with Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Country, Will, Determine, Arabs

It is important that democracy in Lebanon is protected and that Hezbollah will not be supported by outside forces like Syria and Iran.

- Ehud Olmert

Important, Will, Protected, Lebanon

In Israel, we are sorry for the loss of life of Turkish citizens in May 2010, when Israel confronted a provocative flotilla of ships bound for Gaza. I am sure that the proper way to express these sentiments to the Turkish government and the Turkish people can be found.

- Ehud Olmert

Express, Proper, Sentiments, Ships

When I addressed international forums as prime minister, the Israeli people expected me to present bold political initiatives that would bring peace - not arguments outlining why achieving peace now is not possible.

- Ehud Olmert

Political, Why, Bring, Forum

Promoting tolerance and human dignity is one of mankind's unfinished challenges.

- Ehud Olmert

Human Dignity, Promoting, Tolerance

When it was not very comfortable, politically, for me, I said things which lots of people didn't like, some of them may have liked. I said my beliefs, my truth, and my convictions, and that's how I am going to continue to do in the future.

- Ehud Olmert

Some, Very, Politically, Convictions

I always admired the tolerance of my family - you know, that they tolerated my dissension for the family consensus.

- Ehud Olmert

Always, Consensus, Admired, Tolerance

It is impossible to think of a world in which America was not there in the honorable service of humanity.

- Ehud Olmert

World, Think, Which, Honorable

Arafat is the greatest instigator of terror.

- Ehud Olmert

Greatest, Terror, Arafat

Yasser Arafat never wanted to make peace with Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Never, Israel, Wanted, Arafat

Abu Mazen has got to do only one thing: to fight terror. That's what he needs to do.

- Ehud Olmert

Needs, One Thing, Terror, Abu

Abu Mazen has deprived himself of all the practical authorities of government.

- Ehud Olmert

Himself, Practical, Abu

Abu Mazen told me he does not want to change the demographics of Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Want, Israel, Does, Abu

Everything that can strengthen Abu Mazen is favourable.

- Ehud Olmert

Favourable, Strengthen, Abu

From the end of 2006 until the end of 2008 I think I met with Abu Mazen more often than any Israeli leader has ever met any Arab leader. I met him more than 35 times. They were intense, serious negotiations.

- Ehud Olmert

Leader, Him, I Think, Abu

I trust the integrity of the British government and the British soldiers.

- Ehud Olmert

Integrity, Trust, Government, British Government

I have to think about the possible ramifications of an early retirement.

- Ehud Olmert

Think, Possible, About, Ramifications

The history of the Zionist enterprise is well-known: surrounded and outnumbered by hostile neighbours, the nascent Israel was forced to defend itself against invasion and certain destruction.

- Ehud Olmert

Surrounded, Well-Known, Outnumbered

Israel will not tolerate a situation in which Iran has effective control of non-conventional weapons that can be used directly against the state of Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Will, Against, Which, Tolerate

International economic and political sanctions on Iran, as crucial as they may be, are only an initial step, and must be dramatically increased.

- Ehud Olmert

May, Increased, Initial, Sanctions

I know I'm unpopular.

- Ehud Olmert

Know, Unpopular

The newspapers are always reminding the public that I am an unpopular prime minister.

- Ehud Olmert

I Am, Always, Prime, Unpopular

Israel always has to be in a position to defend itself against any adversary and against any threat of any kind.

- Ehud Olmert

Always, Defend, Itself, Adversary

I know the war in Iraq is controversial in the States, but for us in the Middle East it has made a great and significant impact.

- Ehud Olmert

Impact, Middle, Made, Controversial

I was not interested in being minister of defense or minister of foreign affairs.

- Ehud Olmert

Defense, Minister, Foreign Affairs

The Palestinian Authority is ruled by Hamas, an organization committed to vehement anti-Semitism, the glorification of terror, and the total destruction of Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Committed, Hamas, Terror, Vehement

Throughout the second intifada, America provided unprecedented support for Israel's struggle against Palestinian terrorism and Israel's construction of the security barrier.

- Ehud Olmert

Against, Provided, Second, Struggle

Merkel is an amazing woman, very experienced in international politics.

- Ehud Olmert

Politics, Amazing, Very, International

The fundamental interest - long-range strategic interest - of the state of Israel is that we will have the international bodies and primarily the United Nations recognize the two-state solution, so that there will never be any doubt as to the right of Israel to have its own Jewish independent state.

- Ehud Olmert

Independent, Will, Strategic, International

Israel stands proudly at the forefront of international achievement. The world's leading corporations - Google, Intel and Motorola, to name but a few - maintain research and development facilities here, and our technology start-ups continue to be acquired by the likes of AOL, eBay and IBM.

- Ehud Olmert

Achievement, Here, Leading, International

The United States provides Israel with crucial security and economic aid and invaluable political backing in the international arena.

- Ehud Olmert

United States, Invaluable, International

What's the logic of investing millions in agriculture if it will not pay off?

- Ehud Olmert

Agriculture, Will, Pay, Investing

The dreadful terrorism perpetrated by Palestinian terrorist organizations has affected thousands of Israeli citizens, has destroyed families, and has tried to disrupt the lives of the citizens of Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Families, Lives, Thousands, Disrupt

We must give up Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem and return to the core of the territory that is the State of Israel prior to 1967, with minor corrections dictated by the reality created since then.

- Ehud Olmert

Give, Neighborhoods, Minor, Dictated

Stopping all the violent and hostile actions means ending the smuggling of arms into the Gaza territory.

- Ehud Olmert

Ending, Violent, Means, Stopping

The Goldstone Committee was formed in April of 2009, after I was not prime minister. So it was a new political situation.

- Ehud Olmert

New, Committee, Prime, Formed

I want to arrive at the possibility of peace with the Syrians, and when I believe that the conditions are right, I will not miss the opportunity.

- Ehud Olmert

Want, Will, I Believe That, Possibility

Israel has said many times - and I also said this to German television in an interview - that we will not be the first country that introduces nuclear weapons to the Middle East.

- Ehud Olmert

Country, Middle, German, Weapons

Turkey is not an enemy of Israel. I have worked closely with the Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

- Ehud Olmert

Prime, Closely, Minister, Turkish

Already at the time of Israel's birth, Ben-Gurion extended his hand in peace to the Arab nations. His hand was rejected, but it remains extended.

- Ehud Olmert

Birth, Rejected, Remains, Arab

The enemies of peace have not disappeared.

- Ehud Olmert

Peace, Enemies, Disappeared

A prime minister has to keep a certain balance when dealing with sensitive issues.

- Ehud Olmert

Balance, Prime, Minister, Sensitive Issues

I'm not in power, but my ideas are in power. And my ideas will prevail.

- Ehud Olmert

Power, Ideas, Will, Prevail

Iran is a major threat to the well-being of Europe and America just as much as it is for the state of Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Well-Being, Israel, Major, Just As Much

I'm entirely free of any suspicions or complaints about the Obama administration. I think the Obama administration is very friendly to Israel. I know a lot of the people in the administration, and they are committed to Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Think, Committed, Very, Suspicions

Iran is an anti-Semitic, terrorist government.

- Ehud Olmert

Government, Iran, Terrorist, Anti-Semitic

Maaele Adumim is part of Israel. Gush Etzion is part of Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Israel, Part, Gush

When the President of Iran talks about removing Israel from the face of the Earth and is building nuclear bombs with a range of 3000km, you have to be worried.

- Ehud Olmert

About, Iran, Bombs, Worried

There is nowhere I encounter greater understanding for Israel's existential issues than in the Oval Office.

- Ehud Olmert

Office, Issues, Oval, Encounter

I understand the importance which the Palestinian society attributes to the issue of prisoners.

- Ehud Olmert

Society, Which, Issue, Attributes

There is an alliance between Israel and the United States, and it has never been stronger than at the time of George W. Bush.

- Ehud Olmert

Been, United States, George W

A bloc of states is emerging that understands that they may have been wrong to think that Israel is the world's greatest problem.

- Ehud Olmert

World, Think, Been, Emerging

Emerging from embattled and humble beginnings, the Jewish state has exceeded all expectations for its success and prosperity.

- Ehud Olmert

Humble, Jewish, Jewish State, Emerging

The State of Israel, in partnership with Project Better Place and Renault-Nissan, is set to become the first country in the world to initiate the mass deployment of electric vehicles.

- Ehud Olmert

Partnership, Country, Set, Initiate

Barack Obama's journey to the White House has impressed and inspired the entire world.

- Ehud Olmert

Journey, World, Barack, White House

There is no need to get caught up in any apocalyptic prophecies that have no basis in reality.

- Ehud Olmert

Need, Caught, Get, Prophecy

The Palestinians are facing a historic junction at which they will have to decide whether they want to remain stuck in a corner of extreme fundamentalism, which will cut them off from the entire world, or whether they are ready to take the necessary steps. My role is to assist in building this process.

- Ehud Olmert

Role, Cut, Junction, Stuck

I'm not in the most comfortable position, but I think my government is very stable, perhaps more stable than any government in modern Israeli history.

- Ehud Olmert

Think, I Think, Very, Stable

If the Gaza ceasefire proves stable, Israel will not remain in the Strip.

- Ehud Olmert

Will, Gaza, Strip, Stable

Growing up in Israel, how can I not be an optimist? When you remember what Israel was 50 years ago and you see Israel now, one of the most successful countries in the world, stable, democratic, with an enormously stable economy despite everything that has happened in the global economy in the last few years, how can I not be an optimist?

- Ehud Olmert

Remember, Years, Global, Stable

I can tell you that if I'd had an opportunity to meet with King Abdullah of the Saudis - which I have not - he would be very surprised to hear what I have to say.

- Ehud Olmert

King, Very, Which, Surprised

For me to propose a division of Jerusalem was really terrible. I did it because I reached a conclusion that without which there will not be peace.

- Ehud Olmert

Will, Which, Propose, Terrible

There is always a human being behind the titles and the status.

- Ehud Olmert

Behind, Always, Human Being, Titles

I always wake up early Saturday morning, and I have a little bit more time, so I go to the gym.

- Ehud Olmert

More, Always, Saturday, Early

Israel has the power to protect itself and its citizens.

- Ehud Olmert

Power, Israel, Itself, Protect

I never thought that Syria and Israel should engage in a violent confrontation because I don't think that there is any particular interest for any of us to do it.

- Ehud Olmert

Thought, Think, Violent, Engage

Palestinian violence is not a response to the capture of the West Bank and Gaza. Palestinian nationalism's roots are not so shallow.

- Ehud Olmert

Roots, Capture, West Bank, Shallow

Terrorist organizations such as Hamas must be shut down.

- Ehud Olmert

Shut, Hamas, Organizations, Terrorist

As a citizen of a democratic state, I have always believed that when a prime minister is elected in Israel, even those who voted against him at the polls are obligated to desire his success.

- Ehud Olmert

Against, Democratic State, Believed

Politicians are strong to the extent that they are ready to take serious decisions and fight for it.

- Ehud Olmert

Strong, Extent, Take, Decisions

I have found myself under a wave of investigation and criticism from the moment I was elected. Since my first days in the Prime Minister's Office I have had to fight against evil attacks while I have been busy making decisions on crucial matters related to Israel's security and existence.

- Ehud Olmert

Against, Been, Crucial, Decisions

In my position as prime minister, I bear the highest responsibility for decisions.

- Ehud Olmert

Prime, Minister, Highest, Decisions

As long as there are no negotiations with the Palestinians, Israel is and will continue to be in a difficult situation.

- Ehud Olmert

Will, Continue, Israel, Negotiations

What do you prefer? A prime minister obsessed with being popular, or a prime minister who does the job?

- Ehud Olmert

Obsessed, Prime, Prefer, Popular

The values of democracy, brotherhood, and freedom that constitute the building blocks of American society are also shared by Israeli society, together with the faith in man's power and ability to change and influence his surroundings.

- Ehud Olmert

Values, Shared, Blocks, Building Blocks

When public figures write memoirs, there is always some indecision regarding how much they want to write of things as they were and how much they want to cut corners to avoid riling up others. I decided to write my memoirs exactly as they were, and I will not digress - not when things are ill at ease and not when they are comfortable.

- Ehud Olmert

Some, Ease, Cut, Indecision

I have reached a conclusion that when we have to make a choice between greater Israel or a Jewish democratic state - and we have to make this choice, it is inevitable - then my choice is a Jewish democratic country.

- Ehud Olmert

Country, Jewish, Inevitable, Reached

Every word I wrote in my book is documented, certified, true, and correct. The truth wins, and that is my picture.

- Ehud Olmert

Wins, Correct, Wrote, Documented

Dictates are futile, and mutual accusations are nothing but useless word games.

- Ehud Olmert

Nothing, Mutual, Dictates, Accusation

The days that Israel was separated from Europe are gone.

- Ehud Olmert

Europe, Days, Israel, Separated

The situation of any leader in the Middle East is not easy.

- Ehud Olmert

Leader, Middle, East, Situation

I want to separate from the Palestinians. I want them to have their independent, separate state on a contiguous territory, and I want Israel to exist, of course, as a Jewish state in its own territory, as an independent state in its own territory. The Palestinian state, the Israeli state, separate. This is my dream.

- Ehud Olmert

Want, Separate, Jewish State, Territory

Who thinks seriously that if we sit on another hilltop, on another hundred meters, that this is what will make the difference for the state of Israel's basic security?

- Ehud Olmert

Will, Another, Hundred, Basic

I don't like this terminology that you have no choice. You always have a choice.

- Ehud Olmert

Always, Like, No Choice, Terminology

Palestinians want Israel to return back into boundaries, the width of which is 12 km., that can be cut into pieces within minutes.

- Ehud Olmert

Within, Cut, Which, Return

As a young politician, I voted against the return of Sinai and peace with Egypt. I was mistaken.

- Ehud Olmert

Young, Egypt, Against, Return

I've been mayor of the city of Jerusalem, which is perhaps, in some ways, more complex and more difficult than a ministerial position.

- Ehud Olmert

Some, Been, Which, Ministerial

Look, miracles in the Middle East are a reality.

- Ehud Olmert

Middle East, Middle, East, Miracles

I never took a bribe. This is the truth, and there is no other.

- Ehud Olmert

Never, Other, Took, Bribe

My doctors say I am very healthy.

- Ehud Olmert

I Am, Healthy, Very, Doctors

Have I made mistakes in my many years of political activity? Of course! I am sorry and regret them.

- Ehud Olmert

Regret, Activity, Made, I Am Sorry

The legacies of Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, of Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein, stand as an inspiration for all who work for peace.

- Ehud Olmert

Work, King, Hussein, Begin

I think the attempt to draw a comparison between Iran and Syria is false, misleading and dangerous.

- Ehud Olmert

Think, Comparison, I Think, Misleading

There were certain people who were out to get me. I know who those people were. They exist, believe me. They know that I know. They spent millions of dollars in order to try to get rid of me. I'm happy they lost most of their money.

- Ehud Olmert

Happy, Believe, Dollars, Millions

Political leaders can help change the psychological climate which affects the quality of relationships among people.

- Ehud Olmert

Political Leaders, Which, Climate

Don't fall in love with everything that you may have read and everything that you may have heard from any political leader, including myself.

- Ehud Olmert

Love, Leader, Read, Heard

I don't understand this pathetic need for luxuries.

- Ehud Olmert

Understand, Need, Pathetic, Luxuries

How are fears born? They are born because of differences in tradition and history; they are born because of differences in emotional, political and national circumstances. Because of such differences, people fear they cannot live together.

- Ehud Olmert

Born, Circumstances, Tradition

It's a problem sometimes when you speak to journalists. They quote you, and then they read what they wrote, and then they even explain it. It's dangerous.

- Ehud Olmert

Sometimes, Explain, Read, Quote

Before I became prime minister, as mayor of Jerusalem, I became world-renowned because of my fight for the unity of Jerusalem.

- Ehud Olmert

Prime, Became, Minister, Jerusalem

There is nothing that I'd love to do more than negotiate with Palestinians. This is my desire. This is my dream. This is my mission.

- Ehud Olmert

Love, Desire, Mission, Negotiate

Mofaz was elected to head Kadima since the party had been shattered.

- Ehud Olmert

Head, Been, Shattered, Elected

Every prime minister ... has the responsibility to provide security for his people.

- Ehud Olmert

Security, Prime, His, Provide

There is no doubt that there is a very strange phenomenon called the 'State Comptroller.'

- Ehud Olmert

Doubt, Very, Phenomenon, No Doubt

A prime minister must not promise things that can't be fulfilled.

- Ehud Olmert

Prime, Things, Fulfilled, Minister

I was not born to be prime minister, and I'm not going to stay here until the end of my life. I'm too young for that.

- Ehud Olmert

My Life, Here, Prime, Minister

I want to make one thing clear: I am proud to be a citizen of a country in which a prime minister can be investigated like any other citizen.

- Ehud Olmert

Citizen, Prime, Which, Minister

Historic scores cannot be settled, and scars cannot be obliterated.

- Ehud Olmert

Historic, Scores, Settled, Scars

When armed people from Hamas and armed people from Fatah are standing opposite each other, there is more likely to be a confrontation amongst them.

- Ehud Olmert

Other, Hamas, Likely, Standing

Assad is the president of Syria. He enjoys fairly effective control over his country.

- Ehud Olmert

Country, Over, His, Effective

Nobody stands above the law.

- Ehud Olmert

Law, Nobody, Stands, Above

In Israel we tend to be carried away by our emotions.

- Ehud Olmert

Away, Carried, Tend, Israel

Peace is important for Israel.

- Ehud Olmert

Peace, Important, Israel

Israel is grateful that America believes in us.

- Ehud Olmert

Grateful, Us, Believes, Israel

I sometimes feel tired. But there are so many reasons for being tired.

- Ehud Olmert

Sometimes, Feel, Reasons, Tired

I have to make sure that I am doing the right thing. I can't afford to make any mistake.

- Ehud Olmert

Mistake, Doing, Sure, Right Thing

I love my country more than anything else.

- Ehud Olmert

Love, Country, I Love, Anything Else

I don't expect to be coddled, but I'm also a human being.

- Ehud Olmert

Human Being, Being, Also, Expect

I believe that there is no path other than the path of peace.

- Ehud Olmert

Peace, Other, Than, Path

When you fight for the impossible, sometimes you lose everything.

- Ehud Olmert

Impossible, Lose, Sometimes, Fight

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