Symbols, speeches and moments

The words that were said, the moments that were filmed, and the symbols and songs that went with them. Every quote has a speaker, date, occasion and source.

Symbols and words of peaceA circle with three lines, a dove, an olive branch, a handshake. Where did these symbols come from, and what is…Songs of peaceFifteen songs in Hebrew, Arabic and English that have carried the longing for peace — or the pain of its absence. For…Nobel Peace Prize laureatesSince 1950 the Nobel Peace Prize has gone several times to people who tried to end wars between Israel and its…

Iconic moments on video

19 November 1977 Iconic moment

SYND 19 11 77 EGYPT'S PRESIDENT SADAT ARRIVES AND IS GREETED

President Sadat's landing at Ben Gurion Airport and his reception, 19 November 1977 – raw archive footage. The description rests on the video title.

It was the first open visit by an Arab leader to Israel, only four years after the 1973 war. The visit opened the negotiations that led to the Egypt–Israel peace treaty of 1979.

AP Archive · Opens on the source site in a new tab

19 November 1977 Iconic moment

"השלום הוא בלתי נמנע": 42 שנה לביקור סאדאת בישראל | היום לפני

Sadat's visit to Israel, 19–21 November 1977 – a retrospective report by Kan News, Israel's public broadcaster, drawing on its archive, in Hebrew

This is how the visit looked to Israeli viewers: the Egyptian president's landing, his Knesset speech and Prime Minister Begin's reply. In under two days, what had seemed impossible became open negotiation.

כאן | חדשות - תאגיד השידור הישראלי · Opens on the source site in a new tab

19 November 1977 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

Sadat Visits Israel - 1977 | Today In History | 19 Nov 17

President Sadat's arrival in Israel, 19 November 1977 – short archive clip

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20 November 1977 Iconic moment

السادات أمام الكنيست الإسرائيلي: إن أرضنا لا تقبل المساومة، وليست عُرضة للجدل

Excerpt from Sadat's Knesset speech, 20 November 1977 – in Arabic, from the Egyptian television channel ON

Sadat addressed the Knesset in Arabic, and the speech was broadcast worldwide. Alongside his call for peace he set out the Arab demands: withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967 and a solution to the Palestinian question.

ON Live · Opens on the source site in a new tab

20 November 1977 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

SYND 20 11 77 SADAT ADDRESSES ISRAELI PARLIAMENT

Sadat's address to the Knesset, Jerusalem, 20 November 1977 – raw archive footage

AP Archive · Opens on the source site in a new tab

17 September 1978 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

From the archives: Jimmy Carter and the signing of the Camp David Accords

Signing of the Camp David Accords, the White House, 17 September 1978 – from the CBS News archive

CBS News · Opens on the source site in a new tab

26 March 1979 Iconic moment

Peace 1979

Menachem Begin's speech at the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt, the White House, 26 March 1979 – from the Begin Heritage Center channel (as the Center's website describes the video)

At the ceremony sealing the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state, Begin declared an end to war, bloodshed and bereavement. Under the treaty Israel withdrew from all of Sinai, and the peace with Egypt has held ever since.

Begin Center · Opens on the source site in a new tab

26 March 1979 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

Peace Treaty Signed - 1979 | Today In History | 26 Mar 17

Signing of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty, Washington, 26 March 1979 – short archive clip

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13 September 1993 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

Signing of the Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles (1993)

Signing ceremony of the Israel–PLO Declaration of Principles, the White House, 13 September 1993 – Clinton Presidential Library channel

clintonlibrary42 · Opens on the source site in a new tab

25 July 1994 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

Israel-Jordan Washington Declaration Signing (1994)

Signing of the Israel–Jordan Washington Declaration, the White House, 25 July 1994

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26 July 1994 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

King Hussein and Yitzhak Rabin Address US Congress July 1994

King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin address a joint meeting of the US Congress, Washington, 26 July 1994. Uploaded by a private channel, not an official one.

A day after signing the Washington Declaration, which ended the state of belligerency between Israel and Jordan, the two stood side by side in Congress. Rabin described himself as a soldier in the army of peace; three months later the peace treaty was signed.

reds6476 · Opens on the source site in a new tab

26 October 1994 Iconic moment

"שלום בין חיילים, ביו אנשים": חתימת הסכם השלום בין ישראל לירדן | היום לפני

Signing of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty at the Arava/Araba crossing, 26 October 1994 – a retrospective report by Kan News, Israel's public broadcaster, in Hebrew

Israel's second peace treaty with an Arab state was signed in the desert, on the border line itself, with King Hussein, Rabin and President Clinton present. It settled the border and water sharing and remains in force today.

כאן | חדשות - תאגיד השידור הישראלי · Opens on the source site in a new tab

26 October 1994 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

President Clinton at Signing of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty (1994)

President Clinton at the signing of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty, Arava/Araba crossing, 26 October 1994

clintonlibrary42 · Opens on the source site in a new tab

10 December 1994 Iconic moment

Various - Arafat, Peres and Rabin Receive Nobel

Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, 10 December 1994 – archive footage. The description rests on the video title.

The prize was awarded to the three jointly for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East, following the Oslo accord. The decision was contested even then, and the Oslo process never matured into a permanent agreement.

AP Archive · Opens on the source site in a new tab

4 November 1995 Iconic momentLink supplied by the site owner

כן לשלום - לא לאלימות - הנאום בעצרת, יצחק רבין 4.11.95

Yitzhak Rabin’s full speech at the “Yes to Peace, No to Violence” rally in Kings of Israel Square, Tel Aviv, 4 November 1995. He was assassinated minutes later.

Dan-Eyal Gazit · Opens on the source site in a new tab

4 November 1995 Iconic moment

ISRAEL: RABIN ASSASSINATION: LAST SPEECH AT RALLY

Yitzhak Rabin's last speech at the peace rally in Kings of Israel Square, Tel Aviv, 4 November 1995 – archive footage. The description rests on the video title; the video itself was not viewed.

At the rally held under the slogan “Yes to peace, no to violence”, Rabin gave his last speech. Minutes after leaving the stage he was shot dead by a Jewish Israeli assassin; the square has borne his name ever since.

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4 November 1995 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

ערוץ 2: הנאום האחרון לפני רצח רבין, 04.11.1995

Rabin's last speech at the rally, 4 November 1995 – according to the video title, the Israeli Channel 2 broadcast in Hebrew. Uploaded by a private archive-enthusiast channel, not an official one.

This is the speech in its original language, as broadcast to the Israeli public that evening. In it Rabin said violence was eroding the foundations of Israeli democracy; shortly afterwards he was murdered.

החדשות הישנות · Opens on the source site in a new tab

4 November 1995 Iconic moment

President Clinton's Remarks on the Death of PM Rabin (1995)

President Clinton's remarks on the death of Prime Minister Rabin, the White House, 4 November 1995 – filmed by the White House Television crew

Hours after the assassination, the US president bade Rabin farewell in a short statement that ended with the Hebrew words “Shalom, chaver”. The phrase became a symbol of mourning for Rabin in Israel.

clintonlibrary42 · Opens on the source site in a new tab

6 November 1995 Iconic moment

Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's State Funeral Service

Yitzhak Rabin's state funeral on Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, 6 November 1995 – President Clinton's eulogy, from the presidential library channel

Leaders from around the world attended, among them the King of Jordan and the President of Egypt. Their presence showed how far the region had changed during Rabin's years in office.

clintonlibrary42 · Opens on the source site in a new tab

6 November 1995 Iconic moment

Israel - Rabin's Funeral & Eulogies

Rabin's funeral and the eulogies, Jerusalem, 6 November 1995 – archive footage. The description rests on the video title; which eulogies it contains was not verified.

At the funeral King Hussein eulogised Rabin as a brother, colleague and friend – only a year after the two signed the peace treaty. President Mubarak, President Clinton and Rabin's granddaughter Noa Ben Artzi also spoke.

AP Archive · Opens on the source site in a new tab

15 September 2020 Iconic momentNot from an official or archival channel

President Trump Participates in the Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony at the White House

Abraham Accords signing ceremony, the White House, 15 September 2020

U.S. Department of State · Opens on the source site in a new tab

Speeches: the words themselves

I come to you today on solid ground, to shape a new life, to establish peace.

Anwar Sadat · Address to the Knesset, Jerusalem, 20 November 1977
Sadat spoke in Arabic. The text shown is the English translation published by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reproduced by the Jewish Virtual Library; the ministry's own page was not located. The Arabic shown here is the site's translation from the English, not Sadat's original words.
Quote source: Jewish Virtual Library, reproducing Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Yet, today I tell you, and declare it to the whole world, that we accept to live with you in permanent peace based on justice.

In the spirit of the Nobel Prize tradition we gave to each other the most momentous pledge: No more war. No more bloodshed. We shall negotiate and reach agreement.

Menachem Begin · Nobel Lecture, Oslo, 10 December 1978. Begin presents the words as a pledge he and Sadat gave each other – so the wording predates the peace treaty signing ceremony.
Official Nobel Foundation text, in English; consecutive sentences. The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The Nobel Prize (Nobel Foundation)

No more war, no more bloodshed, no more bereavement.

Menachem Begin · Signing ceremony of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty, the White House, Washington, 26 March 1979
Official US transcript (Public Papers of the Presidents), in English. These are the closing words of a longer sentence in Begin's remarks. The wording is singular – "war", not "wars". The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The American Presidency Project, UC Santa Barbara (Public Papers of the Presidents)

…we say to you today in a loud and a clear voice: enough of blood and tears. Enough.

Yitzhak Rabin · Signing ceremony of the Israel–PLO Declaration of Principles, South Lawn of the White House, 13 September 1993
Official White House transcript, in English. This is the end of a long sentence in which Rabin addresses the Palestinians, and the word that follows it; the opening of the sentence is omitted and marked with an ellipsis. The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Clinton White House archive, US National Archives)

Ladies and gentlemen, the battle for peace is the most difficult battle of our lives.

Yasser Arafat · Signing ceremony of the Israel–PLO Declaration of Principles, South Lawn of the White House, 13 September 1993
Arafat spoke in Arabic. The text shown is the English in the official White House transcript, which does not say whether it is a translation or the interpreter's words. The Arabic shown here is the site's translation from the English, not his original words.
Quote source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Clinton White House archive, US National Archives)

We have come to this point because we believe that peaceful coexistence and cooperation are the only means for reaching understanding and for realizing the hopes of the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Mahmoud Abbas · Signing ceremony of the Israel–PLO Declaration of Principles, South Lawn of the White House, 13 September 1993
The English in the official White House transcript, which does not say whether it is a translation or the interpreter's words. The site did not independently verify the language in which the remarks were delivered; the Arabic shown here is the site's translation from the English.
Quote source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Clinton White House archive, US National Archives)

A peace of the brave is within our reach.

Bill Clinton · Signing ceremony of the Israel–PLO Declaration of Principles, South Lawn of the White House, 13 September 1993
Official US text (Public Papers of the Presidents), in English. The Hebrew and Arabic translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The American Presidency Project, UC Santa Barbara (Public Papers of the Presidents)

Yitzhak Rabin, soldier in the Israel Defense Forces, and a soldier in the army for peace

Yitzhak Rabin · US Congress, Washington, 26 July 1994. An excerpt from the sentence in which Rabin introduces himself by his military number.
A short excerpt from the Rabin Center’s English transcript, not the full sentence. A Hebrew text is also available from the Center.
Quote source: The Yitzhak Rabin Center

This is peace with dignity. This is peace with commitment.

King Hussein of Jordan · Signing ceremony of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty, Arava/Araba crossing, 26 October 1994
Official White House transcript, in English. The Hebrew and Arabic translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary (Clinton White House archive, US National Archives)

There was a time when war was fought for lack of choice. Today it is peace that is the "no-choice" option.

Shimon Peres · Nobel Lecture, Oslo, December 1994
The English text published by the Nobel Foundation; two consecutive sentences. The lecture page shows no date; 10 December is the date of the prize ceremony. The site did not verify the language in which the lecture was delivered. The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The Nobel Prize (Nobel Foundation)

Peace, for us, is an asset and in our interest.

Yasser Arafat · Nobel Lecture, Oslo, December 1994
The lecture was given in Arabic. The text shown is the English translation published by the Nobel Foundation ("Translation from the Arabic text by D. Karara"). The lecture page shows no date; 10 December is the date of the prize ceremony. The Arabic shown here is the site's translation from the English, not the original text.
Quote source: The Nobel Prize (Nobel Foundation)

Because words cannot express my true feelings, let me just say, shalom, chaver, goodbye, friend.

Bill Clinton · Remarks on the death of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Rose Garden of the White House, 4 November 1995 – on the night of the assassination, not at the funeral
Official US text (Public Papers of the Presidents), in English with two Hebrew words. The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: US Government Publishing Office (Public Papers of the Presidents: William J. Clinton, 1995, Book II)

You died as a soldier for peace and I believe it is time for all of us to come out openly and to speak of peace.

King Hussein of Jordan · Eulogy at Yitzhak Rabin's funeral, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, 6 November 1995
English text attributed to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as reproduced by the Jewish Virtual Library; the ministry's own page was not located. The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: Jewish Virtual Library, reproducing Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, this day is a pivot of history. It heralds a new dawn of peace.

Benjamin Netanyahu · Abraham Accords signing ceremony, South Lawn of the White House, 15 September 2020
Official White House transcript, in English. The Hebrew and Arabic translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The White House (Trump White House archive, US National Archives)

I stand here today to extend a hand of peace and receive a hand of peace.

Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan · Abraham Accords signing ceremony, South Lawn of the White House, 15 September 2020
The minister spoke in Arabic. The official White House transcript marks his remarks "(As interpreted.)" – this is the interpreter's English, not an official UAE translation. The Arabic shown here is the site's translation from the English, not his original words.
Quote source: The White House (Trump White House archive, US National Archives)

Today — today is a truly historic occasion, a moment of hope and opportunity for all the peoples of the Middle East.

Abdullatif Al Zayani · Abraham Accords signing ceremony, South Lawn of the White House, 15 September 2020
Official White House transcript, in English; his remarks are not marked there as interpreted. The translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The White House (Trump White House archive, US National Archives)

After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East.

Donald Trump · Abraham Accords signing ceremony, South Lawn of the White House, 15 September 2020
Official White House transcript, in English. The Hebrew and Arabic translations are the site's own, not official texts.
Quote source: The White House (Trump White House archive, US National Archives)

More archive footage

November 1977 Not from an official or archival channel

UPITN 28 11 77 BEGIN AND SADAT PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER KNESSET SPEECHES

Begin–Sadat press conference after the Knesset speeches, Jerusalem, November 1977. The date in the title is the archive slug; the exact day of the event was not verified.

AP Archive · Opens on the source site in a new tab

July 1994 Not from an official or archival channel

Reception for King Hussein and PM Rabin at the State Dept. (1994)

Reception for King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin at the State Department, Washington, July 1994. The exact day was not verified.

clintonlibrary42 · Opens on the source site in a new tab

26 October 1994 Not from an official or archival channel

Israel/Jordan - Signing Of Peace Treaty

Signing of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty, 26 October 1994 – archive footage. The description rests on the video title; the video itself was not viewed.

AP Archive · Opens on the source site in a new tab

15 September 2020 Not from an official or archival channel

Secretary Pompeo Attends the Abraham Accords Signing Ceremony at the White House - 12 p.m.

Abraham Accords signing ceremony, the White House, 15 September 2020 – a second State Department upload, apparently of the same feed

U.S. Department of State · Opens on the source site in a new tab

Historic photographs

Local photographs with credits and links to sources and licences. Where a usable image was unavailable, an archive link remains.

7 September 1978

Begin, Carter and Sadat together during one of the Camp David summit meetings, September 1978

White House Staff Photographers / Jimmy Carter Library, National Archives (NAID 181099)

Licence

Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions

Iconic moments on video

Speeches: the words themselves

More archive footage

Historic photographs

Begin, Carter and Sadat together during one of the Camp David summit meetings, September 1978

Sadat and Begin shake hands at Camp David while Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter look on

Menachem Begin

President Carter and President Sadat at Camp David

Sadat, Carter and Begin at the Camp David Accords signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House

Sadat, Carter and Begin at the peace treaty signing, 26 March 1979

President Clinton stands between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat as they shake hands on the White House South Lawn, 13 September 1993

Hussein, Clinton and Rabin in Washington, 25 July 1994, ahead of the October peace treaty

Yitzhak Rabin

Shimon Peres

Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu and Abbas shake hands at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks on, September 2010

Tzipi Livni and Saeb Erekat with John Kerry at the State Department at the start of the 2013 talks

Mahmoud Abbas seated with John Kerry before a meeting in Paris, February 2014

King Mohammed VI greeting John Kerry in Casablanca, April 2014

Netanyahu in a meeting with President Trump and Vice President Pence in the Oval Office

Trump and Netanyahu at the East Room presentation of the US plan, January 2020 – a proposal, not an agreement

Trump, Al Zayani, Netanyahu and Abdullah bin Zayed sign the Abraham Accords on the White House South Lawn

Trump walks along the White House Colonnade with Al Zayani, Netanyahu and Abdullah bin Zayed on the way to the signing ceremony

Benjamin Netanyahu during joint remarks with Pompeo and Al Zayani in Jerusalem, November 2020

Abdullah bin Zayed signing the guestbook at the State Department, October 2021

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Abu Dhabi, October 2023

King Abdullah II meeting Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba, December 2024