Myths & Facts Quotes

On Israeli Democracy
On Israeli Peace Initiatives

On Democracy ^top

"In accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations, the State of Israel is a Jewish state. In accordance with the basic principles on which it was established, the State of Israel is a democracy. There is no contradiction between Israel's character as a Jewish state and its character as a democracy. The existence of a Jewish state does not contravene democratic values, nor does it in any way infringe on the principle of freedom or the principle of civic equality."

— "The Kinneret Agreement", The Committee for National Responsibility

"It is not wise or right to say that the [loyalty oath] proposal is fascist or anti-democratic. It is not.... A law may be an indication of an undesirable process, but the labels of 'antidemocratic' and 'fascist' are not helpful."

— Ruth Gavison, Hebrew University

"We expect anyone wishing to become an Israeli citizen to recognize Israel as the Jewish nation state and a democratic state... The State of Israel was not established as 'just another state'- it was founded as the sovereign state of the Jewish people in their historic homeland; and as a democratic nation, whose citizens, Jews and non-Jews, enjoy full civil equality."

— Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

“The Israeli regime is not Apartheid. It is a unique case of Democracy.”

— Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, South African Interior Minister

On Peace Initiatives^top

"I said that we are willing and we want to promote the peace process with the Palestinians. I have said that the first two components of this peace process are mutual recognition and security. If I may quote myself from upon this platform, I have said numerous times that we need real security arrangements. Not only because they sustain peace, but also because they ensure our security in the event that peace unravels"

— Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

"We left Lebanon, Hezbollah came in. We left Gaza... and Iran walked in. We need to have some safeguards that we do not repeat this a third time, becuase obviously the security of the nation is at stake, and the security of our people, the security of peace, is at stake.... The conclusion of a formal peace doesn't guarantee the continuation of that peace. But the security arrangements that are there they help buttress the peace and they also protect us in case peace unravels, in case Iran walks in or tries to walk in.”

— Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (on keeping an Israeli presence in the West Bank's Jordan Valley)

"I remind you that the peace between Israel and Egypt has endured for over three decades and our goal is to ensure that these relations continue."

— Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister

"We need to understand that Israel's security is sometimes more important than political agreements. We must not fool ourselves, and better face reality as it is – not in a naïve manner."

— Yaakov Amidror, former director IDF Research & Assessment Division (in reference to Egypt's 2011 revolution)

"We are not trying to establish facts on the ground through settlements and we are willing to pay a heavy price in terms of territory for peace. We do not want to control the Palestinians or to dictate their lives. We do not want our children, as soldiers, to stand at checkpoints and screen civilians, and we do not want your children’s childhood pictures to be our children, as soldiers, putting their parents through a security check. We have no hidden agenda. Not so long ago, we decided on disengagement. We left Gaza, we dismantled settlements, we withdrew our army, we took risks with the understanding that Gaza will not be the last step. We want to take the next steps through agreement.It is clear to us that in order to carry out change, we will have to give up parts of Israel."

-- Tzipi Livni, Israeli Foreign Minister

“An armed organization [Hamas] doesn't become democratic once they participate in the election.”

-- Ariel Sharon, Israeli Prime Minister

"Nobody does Israel any service by proclaiming its ‘right to exist.’ Israel’s right to exist, like that of the United States, Saudi Arabia and 152 other states, is axiomatic and unreserved. Israel’s legitimacy is not suspended in midair awaiting acknowledgement....There is certainly no other state, big or small, young or old, that would consider mere recognition of its ‘right to exist’ a favor, or a negotiable concession.”

-- Abba Eban, Knesset Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security

“We’re the only people in the world where our neighbors openly announce they just won’t have us here,” she observed. “And they will not give up fighting and they will not give up war as long as we remain alive. Here....They say we must be dead. And we say we want to be alive. Between life and death, I don’t know of a compromise.”

-- Golda Meir, Israeli Prime Minister