Quotes from Ariel Sharon

To our Palestinian neighbours, I assure you that we have a genuine intention to respect your right to live independently and in dignity. I have already said that Israel has no desire to continue to govern over you and control your fate.

There is a famous saying: 'It's hard to be a Jew.' It's also hard to be a Palestinian. I know that.

If there is ever to be an end to the conflict, the Palestinians must recognize the Jewish people's right to a homeland and the existence of an independent Jewish state in the homeland of the Jewish people.

Arabs have the right to visit everywhere in the Land of Israel, and Jews have the right to visit every place in the Land of Israel.

It is impossible to have a Jewish, democratic state and at the same time to control all of Eretz Israel. If we insist on fulfilling the dream in its entirety, we are liable to lose it all. Everything. That is where the extremist path takes us.

Israel's security policy is determined by our needs. I strongly reject all the unfounded publicity suggesting that Israel is prevented from taking action because of international pressure.

It's very, very clear that you cannot move to the next phase unless the former one has been fully accomplished.

Israel does not start wars.

If we [are to] reach a situation of true peace, real peace, peace for generations, we will have to make painful concessions. Not in exchange for promises, but rather in exchange for peace.

Staying in Likud means wasting time in political squabbles rather than acting on behalf of the good of the country.

I'm a friend of Colin Powell. We talk quite often.

As a Jew, it is my historic responsibility to defend the Jewish people. I feel this responsibility for the survival of the Jewish people. We're not going to accept any decision by anybody else about security of the State of Israel. It is our role and only our role.