"We are sitting on a barrel of explosives, and every time we are surprised anew when the tension explodes, rather than making a genuine effort to stop it."

Yossi Beilin zu den Zusammenstössen zwischen jüdischen und arabischen Israeli in Akko; 10-10-2008 

 "I do not believe in far-reaching proposals and an attempt to expedite matters, especially in light of the political situation."

Tzipi Livni zu den Friedensverhandlugen mit den Palästinensern; 05-10-2008 

Schweigen.

Ehud Olmert, anlässlich seiner achten polizeilichen Einvernahme wg. Korruptionsverdachts; 02-10-2008

"He is a man who would cut the throats of terrorists with his own hands, using a box-cutter –a man of action with a knife in his teeth."

 Begründung der Jury von Channel2, weshalb Mossad-Chef Meir Dagan zu Israels "Mann des Jahres" erkoren wurde; 30-09-2008

 

„I was not prepared to see reality in all its depth. (...) Israel must withdraw from nearly all the territories, if not all.“

Ehud Olmert, 29-09-2008

 

"Give Peace a chance - here tonight you sang it, you want it"

Paul McCartney während seines Konzerts in Tel Aviv, 25-09-2008 

 

"These are not normal days for Israel. There are great diplomatic and economic challenges facing it."

Tzipi Livni's Begründung, warum sie eine Einheitsregierung unter Einbindung Bibi Netanyahus anstrebt; 23-09-2008

 

“This evening, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert submitted a letter of resignation from his post. I appreciate the respectful way in which he is handing over his power. This is not an easy decision, and I am convinced that this is a difficult evening for him.” 

Shimon Peres, Staatspräsident Israels, nachdem er Olmerts formelles Rücktrittschreiben entgegen genommen hat; 21-09-2008 

 

"As of now, there is a country to run and we must act quickly. We don't have time to fuss around with politics."

Tzipi Livni, gewählte neue Vorsitzende der Kadima-Partei; 20-09-2008

 

"Today, I decided along with my family, the time has come to take a Time-Out."

Shaul Mofaz, unterlegener Spitzenkandidat um das Amt des Kadima-Partei-Chefs; 19-09-2009 

 

"One of the main reasons that the attack was carried out yesterday with such ease was because there are Palestinian villages that for some reason are called Jerusalem - Jabel Mukaber and Zur Baher. They need to be treated as we treat Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jenin and Nablus."

Haim Ramon, Israelischer Vizepremier; 03-07-2008 

 

 

"If the perpetrator was an Israeli citizen the law must be changed so that when an Israeli Arab carries out an attack his citizenship is revoked and he is deported. If it wasn't an Israeli citizen we must fight terror as terror has to be fought. We must demolish the terrorists' homes and cut off their stipends."

Eli Yisahai, Israelischer Vizepremierminister, nach der Amokfahr eines Ostjerusalemer Bulldozer-Fahrers, bei dem vier Personen ums Leben kamen; 02-07-2008 

 

"There is an "increasing likelihood" that Israel will carry out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, leaving Washington concerned that Iran would strike both the United States and Israel in retaliation."

Anonymer Pentagon-Mitarbeiter; 01-07-2008 

 

 

"In Western countries, giving up land is impossibly difficult, and in tiny little Israel, governments can relinquish land with unbearable ease. This is something that must be rectified, and the law can do that."

Bibi Netanyahus Begründung, warum er für das in Kraft getretene Gesetz stimmte, wonach Gebietsabtretungen in israel mit einem obligatorischen Referendum verbunden sein werden; 30-06-2008

 

"I am the commander of all the soldiers ... of the living and the dead, and therefore I say to you the deal must be approved."

Gaby Askenazi, Israels Generalstabschef, zum Gefangenenaustausch mit Hesbollah; 29-06-2008

 

 "I don't care who fired. Every breach must be met with an immediate military response. I made my opinion clear to both the prime minister and the defense minister following the first infraction, and I will make clear to my foreign counterparts too."

Tzipi Livni, Israels Aussenministerin; 26-06-2008 

 

"Who would have believed that 731 days have passed, and that the prime minister who took the full responsibility of Gilad's return upon himself has not succeeded in reaching an agreement to bring him home. Who would have believed that 731 days have passed and Gilad still has not seen the light of day or the light at the end of the tunnel."

Noam Shalit, Vater des in den Gaza-Streifen entführten Soldaten Gilad Shalit; 25-06-2008 

 

"Hamas supporters and the people of Gaza are pissed off with Hamas after years of violence."

Ehud Olmert, Israels Premier, am Tag, an dem ein Waffenstillstand zwischen den palästinenischen Organisationen im Gaza-Streifen und Israel in Kraft tritt; 19-06-2008

 

"The purpose of the web site is to address Israeli public opinion directly, in an effort to present the way Jordan sees the situation in the region."

Ali al-Ayid;Jordaniens Botschafter in Tel Aviv zur Lancierung einer Homepageder Botschaft auf hebräisch; 11-06-2008 

 

"We must stop the Iranian threat by all possible means."

Ehud Olmert, Israels Premier; 04-06-2008

 

"I have been done an injustice, and it is illogical that a prime minister should be brought down because of something like this. Some people think that every investigation requires a resignation. I do not agree, and I do not intend to resign."

Ehud Olmert, Israels Premier, 29-05-2008 

 

"I do not think the prime minister can simultaneously run the government and deal with his own personal affair. Therefore, out of a sense of what is good for the country and in accordance with the proper norms, I think the prime minister must disconnect himself from the daily running of the government. He can do this in any of the ways available to him - suspension, vacation, resignation or declaring himself incapacitated. We will not be the ones to determine this."

Ehud Barak, Vorsitzender Arbeitspartei und Verteidigungsminister, an die Adresse Premier Olmerts; 28-05-2008

 

"I only know that he loved expensive cigars. I know he loved pens, watches. I found it strange. - Olmert called me to say his own credit card was maxed out. He asked if he could borrow my card and he said it was part of a loan."

Morris Talansky, Kronzeuge im Korruptions-Ermittlungsverfahren gegen Ehud Olmert; 27-05-2008

 

"We must not leave the Golan Heights because of its strategic height. We must not make peace with a dictatorial regime - because this will be a peace that we will not be able to protect."

Bibi Netanyahu zu den israelisch-syrischen indirekten Verhandlungen; 26-05-2008 

 

"It is only a matter of time before these long-range rockets will be used. The chances of a calm with Hamas are very slim."

Yuval Diskin, Chef des Inlandsgeheimdienstes zu möglichem Waffenstillstand mit Hamas; 25-05-2008 

 

"I'm fulfilling a national duty by pursuing the negotiations with Syria."

Ehud Olmert bestätigt indirekte Verhandlungen mit Syrien; 21-05-2008

 

"It breaks my heart to see the vast potential of the Palestinian people really wasted."

George Bush, in Sharm el-Sheik, nachdem er die palästinensischen Gebiete nicht besucht hat; 17-05-2008

 

"Israel is the homeland for the chosen people."

George Bush, in der Knesset; 15-05-2008

 

"We consider the Holy Land a very special place and we consider the Israeli people our close friends, Shalom."

George Bush, nach der Landung in Tel Aviv; 14-05-2008 

 

" What kind of progress is Olmert talking about?"

Saeb Erekat, palästinensischer Unterhändler, nachdem Israels Premier von Fortschritten bei den israelisch-palästinensischen Gesprächen geredet hatte, das am Vortag der Bush-Ankunft in Israel; 13-05-2008

 

"Nothing is impossible. Air Force officers are providing remarkable responses to the various issues at hand, and this includes dealing with long ranges."

 

Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Eliezer Shkedy zum Iran; 12-05-2008.

 

"Citizens of Israel, I look you in the eye and I say to you, in no uncertain terms, I have never taken a bribe, nor have I unlawfully pocketed money."

Ehud Olmert, nachdem das 5.Ermittlungsverfahren wegen Korruptionsverdacht gegen ihn eröffnet worden ist; 09-05-2008 

 

"It is not that difficult to be Prime Minister, but I can assure you – it is not easy."

Ehud Olmert, Israels Ministerpräsident am 3.Tag der Nachrichtensperre über ein 5. Ermittlungsverfahren gegen ihn wegen mutmasslichen Korruptionsverdachts; 05-05-2008 

 

"Peace is never going to happen as long as each side defines "peace" and "justice" as destruction of the other and trampling the rights of the other."

Ami Isseroff, Middeast Web; 02-05-2008

 

"Islamic Jihad can not be a party to a truce agreement that does not also apply at the onset to the occupied West Bank. But we will not be the first to violate or undermine it, and we will give a chance for the reopening of (the Gaza Strip's border) crossings and alleviating the suffering of our people."

Zeyad al-Nakhala, deputy to exiled Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Shallah; 01-05-2008

 

"Israel Defense Forces IDF troops were unable to identify Reuters News cameraman Fadel Shana as a journalist before they fired at him from a tank."

Major Avital Leibovich, Pressesprecherin der IDF; 30-04-2008

 

“Young Palestinians are losing hope for an agreement with Israel. Increasingly, the Palestinians who talk about a two-state solution are my age."

Condoleezza Rice (53), US-Aussenministerin, 29-04-2008  

 

"To Israel's dismay, Hamas is not serious. It's playing games, trying to buy time in order to regroup and rearm. There would be no need for Israel's defensive actions if Hamas would cease and desist from committing terrorist attacks on Israelis."  

David Baker, Pressesprecher von Israels Premier Olmert, zu einem Waffenstillstands-Angebot der Hamas; 25-04-2008 

 

"Hamas would be satisfied with a Palestinian state limited to the lands Palestinians held before 1967 (...)a jewish state could exist alongside that state, but we will never outright recognize a jewish state."

Khaled Mashaal, Hamas Political Leader; 21-04-2008

 

"I'm not a negotiator. I'm someone who might provide some communication. I'm going to try to make [Hamas political Leader Khaled Meshal] agree to a peaceful resolution, both with Israel and with Hamas's Palestinian rivals."

Jimmy Carter, früherer US-Präsident in Ramallah; 14-04-2008

 

"Israel is ranked number one in the world in computers per capita, with seven computers for every 100 people. Denmark tops the list with the most developed communications networks in the world, followed by Sweden and Switzerland." 

World Economic Forum's yearly report; 10-04-2008 

 

'The terror attack would have been avoided had the government cut itself off from Gaza- in practice, cutting off fuel and electricity supplies to the Strip. Fatah's involvement [in the attack] forces Israel to see it as a terror organization for all intents and purposes."

Avigdor Liebermann, israelischer Parlamentarier, nach einem palästinensischen Anschlag auf den Güterübergang Nahal Oz, der vier Tote gefordert hat; 09-04-2008 

 

"We are ready for reconciliation that will grant ours and your own children a life devoid of the threats of war and bloodshed."

Marwan Barghouti, inhaftierter Fatah-Leader; 08-04-2008

 

Une attaque iranienne contre Israël déclenchera une riposte dure qui provoquer la destruction de la nation iranienne."

Benjamin Ben Eliezer, Infrastuktur-Minister Israels; 07-04-2008

 

"Current negotiations [between Israel and the Palestinian Authority] are not actual," "only the release of [Fatah-Leader] Marwan Barghouti could change things around."

Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, Infrastruktur-Minister Israels; 05-04-2008 

 

"We failed entirely in the intifada. We haven't seen any benefit or positive result from it. We achieved nothing. It's a crushing failure. We failed at the political level - we didn't succeed in translating the military actions into political achievements."

Zakariya Zubeidi, ehemaliger Al-Aqsa-Martyr's-Brigaden-Leader, Jenin; 04-04-2008

 

"Hamas supports the united Palestinian position calling for the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem, and the right of return for refugees."

Khaled Meshal, Hamas Politbüro-Chef; 02-04-2008 

 

"I have to say I find very impressive the work that is being done and the seriousness of the process and I think it's all moving in the right direction."

Condoleezaa Rice, US-Aussenministerin. Wenige Stunden später kündigt Israels Regierung den Bau von weiteren 600 Wohneinheiten im annektierten Ost-Jerusalem an; 31-03-2008  

 

"I think it's a very good start."

Condoleezza Rice, US-Aussenministerin, zu Israels Versprechen, 50 unbemannte der rund 500 Strassensperren und Checkpoints nächstens räumen zu wollen; 30-03-2008

 

"These are small steps."

Antwort von Samir Abdallah, palästinensischer Planungs-Minister; 30-03-2008

 

''It is 60 years of Israel's independence, which also means that it is 60 years of suffering of the people who were here.''

Begründung des Star-Dirigenten Daniel Barenboim, warum er an den 60Jahr-Feierlichkeiten zur Gründung des Staates Israel nicht teilnehmen wird; 28-03-2008 

 

"I think, quite frankly, as I said to (Russian Foreign Minister Sergei) Lavrov that, you know, what we need in order to make peace in the Middle East is to see the two side sitting together and talk rather than going to international conventions."

Ehud Olmert, israelischer Premier; 26-03-2008 

 

"There was a misunderstanding. President Abbas was busy hosting US-Vicepresident Cheney, and our negotiator Azzam tried many times to contact him (Abbas), but couldn't reach him. The talks were at the end, and time was pressing."

Ahmad Qureiya, palästinensischer Chefunterhändler, über das im Yemen von Fatah "missverständlich" unterzeichnete Abkommen mit der Hamas-Bewegung; 24-03-2008

 

"Ich spüre das Leiden der israelischen Bevölkerung persönlich, und das bringt mich den Leuten immer  näher."

Silvio Berlusconi, Reichster italieneischer Polit-Unternehmer; 19-03-2008 

 

«Die Shoah erfüllt uns Deutsche mit Scham. Der Zivilisationsbruch durch die Shoah ist beispiellos und hat Wunden bis heute hinterlassen."

Angela Merkel, Bundeskanzlerin in der Knesset; 18-03-2008

 

"Leider erfüllen wir unsere Verpflichtungen nicht, und das schadet uns international und schränkt unsere Möglichkeiten ein, die Verhandlungen fortzusetzen."

Haim Ramon, Israels Vize-Premier über den Siedlungsbau und die Verpflichtungen im Rahmen der Road map; 15-03-2008

 

"Even in a just cause, there are limits. If there aren't, how long is it before the cause stops being just?"

Larry Derfner, Leitartikler  "Jerusalem Post"; 13-03-2008 

 

"The Foreign Ministry has decided to embargo Al Jazeera. These reports (about the latest operations by the Israeli Defence Forces in the Gaza strip) are untrustworthy and they hurt us, and they arouse people to terrorist activities."

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Majali Wahabe; 12-03-2008 

 

"We are a hairsbreadth or less from announcing the failure of the peace process, given its evolution."

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa; 11-03-2008 

 

"L'annonce du gouvernement israélien est-elle utile au processus de paix israélo-palestinien? Non, elle est inopportune".

Sean McCormack, Sprecher US-Aussenministerium zu Israels Beschluss, weitere 710 Wohneinheiten im besetzten Westjordanland zu errichten; 10-03-2008 

 

«Talks will go nowhere unless we get the issue of terrorism under control. If we have talks on Monday and bombs going off on Tuesday, talks will become meaningless.»

Mark Regev, Pressesprecher Premierminister Ehud Olmert's; 07-03-2008

 

"The problems there are, one, the attacks on Israel and the other is the buildup of Hamas, which has now begun to be more like a small army and less a terrorist organization, and they are trying to get more and more weapons coming through Egypt to the Gaza Strip."

Tzipi Livni, Israelische Aussenministerin; 05-03-2008 

 

"The more Qassam (rockets) fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, (the palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger Holocaust because we will use all our might to defent ourselves"

Matan Vilnai, Israelischer Vize-Verteidigungsminister; 29-02-2008

(wenige Stunden nach dieser Aussage meint Vilnais Mediensprecher, der Minister habe nie von Holocaust gesprochen)