Ill-chosen emissions - 10 of the prime minister's more unfortunate quotes

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
  • To German television (Dec 11, 2006): Accused Iran of working to get nuclear weapons like "America, France, Israel, Russia."
  • To high school students in the Knesset regarding Israel's kidnapped soldiers in Lebanon (Dec. 4, 2006): "I hope they are alive" and that a prisoner exchange would merely decide whether the soldiers "remain in captivity for a bit longer or a bit less."
  • To same high school students before leaving to a meeting with French Socialist Party Presidential Candidate Segolene Royal: "I have to go to a meeting with the one who needs to be president of France."
  • To US President George W. Bush (Nov. 13, 2006): "We are very much impressed and encouraged by the stability which the great operation of America in Iraq brought to the Middle East."
  • To Israeli journalists accompanying him to Washington, declining to support IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz (Nov. 13, 2006): "I haven't read the criticism of him."
  • To multiple interviewers ahead of Rosh Hashana (Sept. 22, 2006): "A prime minister has to run a country, he doesn't have to have an agenda."
  • To multiple interviewers ahead of Rosh Hashana regarding his $1.2 million condominium on Tel Aviv's Sheinkin Street and his real estate transactions that are being investigated (Sept. 22, 2006): "I just have one three-bedroom apartment in Tel Aviv."
  • To the Associated Press (Aug. 2, 2006): "The outcome of the operations in the South and the North will ultimately lay the foundations for movement in the framework of realignment."
  • To students at National Defense College (Aug. 1, 2006): "The face of the Middle East has changed pursuant to the significant accomplishments in the last three weeks achieved by the state of Israel, the IDF and the people of Israel."
  • To Kadima activists in Rishon Lezion (March 8, 2006): "The question of who will win this election has already been decided." - G.H.