Top 35 Ehud Olmert Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “I love my country more than anything else.”

— Ehud Olmert

2. “I sometimes feel tired. But there are so many reasons for being tired.”

— Ehud Olmert

3. “Israeli lives are worth more than Palestinian ones.”

— Ehud Olmert

4. “My doctors say I am very healthy.”

— Ehud Olmert

5. “There is no ceasefire. There will not be any ceasefire.”

— Ehud Olmert

6. “Political leaders can help change the psychological climate which affects the quality of relationships among people.”

— Ehud Olmert

7. “It is important that democracy in Lebanon is protected and that Hezbollah will not be supported by outside forces like Syria and Iran.”

— Ehud Olmert

8. “In Israel we tend to be carried away by our emotions.”

— Ehud Olmert

9. “Iran is an anti-Semitic, terrorist government.”

— Ehud Olmert

10. “Leadership is tested not by one’s capacity to survive politically but by the ability to make tough decisions in trying times.”

— Ehud Olmert

11. “When you fight for the impossible, sometimes you lose everything.”

— Ehud Olmert

12. “The formula for the parameters of a unilateral solution are: To maximize the number of Jews; to minimize the number of Palestinians; not to withdraw to the 1967 border and not to divide Jerusalem.”

— Ehud Olmert

13. “I know the war in Iraq is controversial in the States, but for us in the Middle East it has made a great and significant impact.”

— Ehud Olmert

14. “I was not born to be prime minister, and I’m not going to stay here until the end of my life. I’m too young for that.”

— Ehud Olmert

15. “I know I’m unpopular.”

— Ehud Olmert

16. “How are fears born? They are born because of differences in tradition and history; they are born because of differences in emotional, political and national circumstances. Because of such differences, people fear they cannot live together.”

— Ehud Olmert

17. “I am focused on what needs to be done for the people of Israel. Period. I do not pity myself and I do not pat myself on the shoulder. I get up in the morning full of energy to fulfill my mission.”

— Ehud Olmert

18. “I don’t want to block every contact with the Palestinians, I think that would be a mistake, and I think that Abu Mazen has an independent status as democratically elected head of the Palestinian people, and it’s important if I will talk with him.”

— Ehud Olmert

19. “Israel always has to be in a position to defend itself against any adversary and against any threat of any kind.”

— Ehud Olmert

20. “The military operation in Lebanon was the most successful military operation in recent Israeli history. Many in Israel don’t recognise that.”

— Ehud Olmert

21. “When the President of Iran talks about removing Israel from the face of the Earth and is building nuclear bombs with a range of 3000km, you have to be worried.”

— Ehud Olmert

22. “I think the attempt to draw a comparison between Iran and Syria is false, misleading and dangerous.”

— Ehud Olmert

23. “Who thinks seriously that if we sit on another hilltop, on another hundred meters, that this is what will make the difference for the state of Israel’s basic security?”

— Ehud Olmert

24. “A prime minister must not promise things that can’t be fulfilled.”

— Ehud Olmert

25. “I never thought that Syria and Israel should engage in a violent confrontation because I don’t think that there is any particular interest for any of us to do it.”

— Ehud Olmert

26. “I’m not in power, but my ideas are in power. And my ideas will prevail.”

— Ehud Olmert

27. “There were certain people who were out to get me. I know who those people were. They exist, believe me. They know that I know. They spent millions of dollars in order to try to get rid of me. I’m happy they lost most of their money.”

— Ehud Olmert

28. “There is nothing that I’d love to do more than negotiate with Palestinians. This is my desire. This is my dream. This is my mission.”

— Ehud Olmert

29. “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.”

— Ehud Olmert

30. “A prime minister has to keep a certain balance when dealing with sensitive issues.”

— Ehud Olmert

31. “For me to propose a division of Jerusalem was really terrible. I did it because I reached a conclusion that without which there will not be peace.”

— Ehud Olmert

32. “I have to think about the possible ramifications of an early retirement.”

— Ehud Olmert

33. “Israel will not tolerate a situation in which Iran has effective control of non-conventional weapons that can be used directly against the state of Israel.”

— Ehud Olmert

34. “Peace is important for Israel.”

— Ehud Olmert

35. “Look, miracles in the Middle East are a reality.”

— Ehud Olmert

36. “Iran is a major threat to the well-being of Europe and America just as much as it is for the state of Israel.”

— Ehud Olmert