Quotes About Middle East

There is a clear interest within ISIS to drag Israel into a war with them. If they do so, they will be able to paint Israel as having an alliance with the states fighting against them.

There is no more Palestine. Finished.

I feel that the Jews have always had a special connection to this part of the world, which in geographical terms was called Palestine for so many centuries.

I'd be happy if, during my mandate, the Palestinian state existed.

We know there can be no justice in the Middle East without a Palestinian state. But there can be no security in the Middle East without a Palestinian state.

It is clear a Palestinian state is needed.

First of all, I think the Saudis are deeply concerned about the collapse of negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians and the resumption of conflict.

Arab states continue to send the Palestinians gifts of extravagant rhetoric and countless Arab League resolutions - but not much cash.

I don't feel we need a declaration from the Palestinians that they recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Every administration has this idea to talk tough to Israel and make nice to the Arabs and the Palestinians, and that's the way to bring about peace. It's counter-productive - it's actually the opposite.

If we see to it that the Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians have jobs, we will actually be securing our own future.

Hamas is really a problem for the Palestinians and for Egypt more than Israel.

Toward the Palestinians, Israel can only give. But when dealing with the entire Arab world, Israel can get a lot.

The main aim of the Palestinians is to destroy the state of Israel.

No doubt Israel and America have made mistakes in the Middle East. Certainly, Israel was born at the price of considerable dislocation and suffering on the part of the Palestinians. And yes, there will never be a satisfying answer for this.

Bill Clinton somehow managed to be revered and adored by both the Palestinians and the Israelis. Obama has managed to be looked at suspiciously by both.

We've gone too far in thinking we can re-create an American democratic paradise in the Middle East.

I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount.

The security of Israel always has to be paramount.

Israel is the only country in the Middle East where Arabs can be elected to the parliament in a democratic election.

The invasion of Iraq, particularly, gave a big shot in the arm to the jihadi extremists.

My dad was working abroad, in Iraq, and he was a doctor. We used to go and visit him, in Baghdad, off and on. For the first ten years of my life, we used to go backwards and forwards to Baghdad, so that was quite amazing. I spent a lot of time traveling around the Middle East.

The fake republics are goners; the monarchies have a fighting chance. That's my conclusion after a short visit to the Middle East and discussions with officials and analysts there.

Last year I traveled to the Middle East to visit with troops in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.