“My optimism is not based primarily on the successful march of democracy in recent times but rather is based on the experience of having lived in a fear society and studied the mechanics of tyranny that sustain such a society.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: society
Tags: society, Natan Sharansky
“Only weeks after Oslo began, when nearly all the world and most of Israel was drunk with the idea of peace, I argued that a Palestinian society not constrained by democratic norms would be a fear society that would pose a grave threat to Israel.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: society
Tags: society, Natan Sharansky
“I am optimistic that peace can be achieved in the region because I believe that every society on earth can be free and that if freedom comes to the Middle East, there can be peace.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: society
Tags: society, Natan Sharansky
“To understand why dictators have a problem with making peace – or at least a genuine peace – the link between the nature of a regime and its external behavior must be understood.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: peace
Tags: peace, Natan Sharansky
“In contrast, fear societies are societies in which dissent is banned.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: fear
Tags: fear, Natan Sharansky
“I am optimistic that peace can be achieved in the region because I believe that every society on earth can be free and that if freedom comes to the Middle East, there can be peace.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: freedom
Tags: freedom, Natan Sharansky
“The message of the free world to any potential Palestinian leadership should be a simple one: Embrace democratic reform and we will embrace you.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: leadership
Tags: leadership, Natan Sharansky
“Only weeks after Oslo began, when nearly all the world and most of Israel was drunk with the idea of peace, I argued that a Palestinian society not constrained by democratic norms would be a fear society that would pose a grave threat to Israel.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: fear
Tags: fear, Natan Sharansky
“People may believe that there can be a society where dissent is not permitted, but which is nonetheless not a fear society because everyone agrees with one another and therefore no one wants to dissent.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: society
Tags: society, Natan Sharansky
“When we are unwilling to draw clear moral lines between free societies and fear societies, when we are unwilling to call the former good and the latter evil, we will not be able to advance the cause of peace because peace cannot be disconnected from freedom.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: freedom
Tags: freedom, Natan Sharansky
“The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror and make peace with Israel.”
— Natan Sharansky
Author: Natan Sharansky
Category: peace
Tags: peace, Natan Sharansky