James Baker Quotes

Like all Israelis, I yearn for peace. I see the utmost importance in taking all possible steps that will lead to a solution of the conflict with the Palestinians.

I think placing preconditions before negotiations is the quickest way to undermine peace.

The way forward in the Middle East, as it has been around the world and throughout history, is communication. There must be direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, mediated by the United States.

Intervention only works when the people concerned seem to be keen for peace.

A peace talk is always difficult, always complicated.

It's necessary for Israelis and Palestinians to make the compromises that are required to get the direct talks back on track.

If you are going to make peace, you can't just meet nice people.

We believe that we should come to an agreement with the Palestinians. But we need two to tango.

Sharon is capable of making peace.

If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.

I want to arrive at the possibility of peace with the Syrians, and when I believe that the conditions are right, I will not miss the opportunity.

If you want to bring an end to long-standing conflict, you have to be prepared to compromise.

What you need to do in conflict resolution is to bring the people who believe that the answer to their political ambitions will be achieved through violence into a frame of mind that they accept that their political ambitions will be delivered by politics.

My colleagues and I have gone in the footsteps of our predecessors since the very first day we were called by our people to care for their future. We went any place, we looked for any avenue, we made any effort to bring about negotiations between Israel and its neighbors, negotiations without which peace remains an abstract desire.

The Commission has five commissioners from each side, plus three alternates, so all together sixteen members, people who are independent from the two governments, who have a lot of integrity, professional competence, and who have credibility in their respective countries.

Whether it be a matter of personal relations within a marriage or political initiatives within a peace process, there is no sure-fire do-it-yourself kit.

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.

I say that to my colleagues, by the way, in the internal Cabinet meetings, I say, 'Look, I want to be very clear about what I want.' I just - I don't want a peace process, I want a peace result.

Leaders alone can rarely make peace. They have to bring people along.

Success of negotiations cannot be guaranteed. If there is no attempt, then failure is guaranteed.

Negotiations in pain and frustration for 5 years is better than bullets for 5 minutes.

According to the “ripeness theory,” every conflict reaches a point when the parties are tired of confrontation and determine it is in their interest to make peace. With practical steps, principled leadership, and encouragement from the international community, the peace process still represents a win-win for both sides.

It is impossible for either nations or individuals, in the management of a dispute, to have the benefit of two opposite chances. They may be, from the first, moderate, pacific, magnanimous; they will thus secure certain advantages, and they will lose possible advantages. They may, on the contrary, be haughty, warlike, and selfish ; their chances and advantages will then be the reverse of the former. It is impossible to unite the two.

Believe me, it is much harder to make peace than war.