Yitzhak Rabin Quotes

In fighting terror, you cannot let it interfere with the normal life of civilians in Israel.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I believe that in the long run, separation between Israel and the Palestinians is the best solution for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

- Yitzhak Rabin

There's nothing harder than defining oneself.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Let the Palestinians run their affairs: create a situation in which no Israeli soldier will have to maintain public order, whether in Gaza or the West Bank. Let's give it to the Palestinians, as long as there is security for us. No more occupying another people.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Only the change on the international scene, the crisis in the gulf, and the strong, firm position of the United States against aggression between two Arab countries created realities that led to the Madrid Peace Conference.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Regardless of some disagreements in the past with Dr. Kissinger, I personally had a very good relationship with the secretary when I served as ambassador to the United States and later on as premier.

- Yitzhak Rabin

As prime minister, I changed Israel's position on peace negotiations. I made it clear that we are ready to go along with Resolution 242 of the U.N. Security Council, which specifies withdrawal to secure and recognized boundaries in the context of peace.

- Yitzhak Rabin

President Sadat of Egypt made a historic breakthrough in 1977 when he put an end to war and convinced both Egyptians and Israelis that he was ready to make peace. He broke down the walls of suspicion and prejudice.

- Yitzhak Rabin

The struggle to get weapons is continuous, but the United States will aid us, if it finds Israel displaying a willingness for peace.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I believe however that peace is attainable regardless of the Arabs mentality, society or government.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I don't want to be the policeman of Lebanon. It's not the business of Israel. Israel was not created to serve as a policeman of the region.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Although it is true that Hizballah is organized, inspired, financed, and armed by Iran, its main bases in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley are under Syrian military control.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Lebanon is a Syrian protectorate. The Lebanese dare not do anything without the approval of Damascus.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I enter negotiations with Chairman Arafat, the leader of the PLO, the representative of the Palestinian people, with the purpose to have coexistence between our two entities, Israel as a Jewish state and Palestinian state, entity, next to us, living in peace.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Arafat carried out what I consider to be atrocities.

- Yitzhak Rabin

As far as Israel, I am not worried about the relations between Israel and the United States.

- Yitzhak Rabin

We must fight terrorism as if there's no peace process and work to achieve peace as if there's no terror.

- Yitzhak Rabin

A diplomatic peace is not yet the real peace. It is an essential step in the peace process leading towards a real peace.

- Yitzhak Rabin

No Arab ruler will consider the peace process seriously so long as he is able to toy with the idea of achieving more by the way of violence.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Practically the only way to dry the swamp of radical Islam is through economic development and an improved standard of living.

- Yitzhak Rabin

We must think differently, look at things in a different way. Peace requires a world of new concepts, new definitions.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I don't believe that in the name of the holiness of the city you have to put barbed wires, machine gun nests, mine pins and everything of that, in the name of the holiness of Jerusalem.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I don't see any reason to discriminate against homosexuals.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Israel's willingness to cooperate closely with the U.S. in protecting American interests in the region altered her image in the eyes of many officials in Washington.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Israel is no longer a people that dwells alone, and has to join the global journey toward peace, reconciliation and international cooperation.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I'm trying to learn the lessons of the past, but not to make speeches about the past.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I believe that it is my responsibility as the prime minister of Israel to do whatever can be done to exploit the unique opportunities that lie ahead of us to move towards peace. Not everything can be done by one act.

- Yitzhak Rabin

It is our duty, to ourselves and to our children, to see the new world as it is now.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I would like Israel to be a Jewish state, and therefore not to annex over 2 million Palestinians who live in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to Israel, which will make Israel a bi-national state.

- Yitzhak Rabin

You can always make peace with an F-16 in your pocket.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I am 73 years old. I was born in Jerusalem. I'm the first prime minister of Israel to be born here. I am the only former general to become a prime minister.

- Yitzhak Rabin

You don't make peace with friends. You make it with very unsavory enemies.

- Yitzhak Rabin

We do not celebrate the death of our enemies.

- Yitzhak Rabin

In the Jewish tradition, there is at the same time Jerusalem in the heavens and Jerusalem on the ground. Jerusalem is a living city, but also the heart, the soul of the Jewish people and the state of Israel.

- Yitzhak Rabin

It is not worth the paper it is written on unless it is backed by the kind of force that will make the other side consider the penalties too heavy to break the agreement.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Jerusalem is united, will never be divided again.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Terror cannot be finished by one war.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I don't pretend that I can imagine myself as a Palestinian.

- Yitzhak Rabin

Israel has an important principle: It is only Israel that is responsible for our security.

- Yitzhak Rabin

In the midst of fighting there is no place for public debate.

- Yitzhak Rabin

I think that life in Israel is sometimes bigger than the movies.

- Yitzhak Rabin