--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think about the Arabs not as enemies…" description: "\"I think about the Arabs not as enemies but as cousins. Even when we are in a fierce conflict with them, they are more of a kind of family - with all th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/a-b-yehoshua-17555_arabs_i-think-about-the-arabs-not-as-enemies-b_1338230.png" --- # I think about the Arabs not as enemies but as cousins… ![“I think about the Arabs not as enemies but as cousins. Even when we are in a fierce conflict with them, they are more of a kind of family - with all the problems of a family. We have to live with them.” quote by A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/a-b-yehoshua-17555_arabs_i-think-about-the-arabs-not-as-enemies-b_1338230.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/a-b-yehoshua-17555_arabs_i-think-about-the-arabs-not-as-enemies-b_1338230.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/518/a-b-yehoshua-17555_arabs_i-think-about-the-arabs-not-as-enemies-b_1338230.png) > “I think about the Arabs not as enemies but as cousins. Even when we are in a fierce conflict with them, they are more of a kind of family - with all the problems of a family. We have to live with them.” [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing Arab people as family rather than enemies, emphasizing shared humanity despite conflict. **In simple terms:** Arabs are family, not foes. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy and dialogue. Themes conflict family humanity Mood hopeful thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - peacebuilding workshops - community dialogues - educational programs Key Concepts shared history reconciliation Questions to Reflect On - How can you view opponents as relatives? - What actions foster familial understanding? A Different Perspective Family ties can be strained by politics, making empathy hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-problems/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Do you think Arabs are dumb? They gave us our numbers. 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From the Arabs I have learned one thing: if you are led by Authority, that means you are led…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adelard-of-bath/they-know-how-to-think-from-the-arabs-i-have-learned-one-thing-if-you/) Adelard of Bath > [And in England there has always been something deeply pro-Arab, of course, not among all Englishmen, and anti-Israeli, in the establishment. They abstained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/and-in-england-there-has-always-been-something-deeply-pro-arab-of/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [We're living with the Arabs; we have to understand them... Through knowing the Arabs, you know yourself better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/we-re-living-with-the-arabs-we-have-to-understand-them-through/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [“model’s blind spots reflect the judgments and priorities of its creators. 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Because I know I have 11 sisters to cheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-i-step-on-that-field-all-my-stress-family-problems-and-heartache/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pick a dysfunction and it's a family problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/pick-a-dysfunction-and-it-s-a-family-problem/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [“Perfectionist parents seem to operate under the illusion that if they can just get their children to be perfect, they will be a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward-ph-d/perfectionist-parents-seem-to-operate-under-the-illusion-that-if-they/) Susan Forward Ph.D > [~Im all alone no one cares whether I live or I die all I ever do is cause problems for everyone cant they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-eyes/im-all-alone-no-one-cares-whether-i-live-or-i-die-all-i-ever-do-is/) Angel\_eyes > [I was 17 when I was forced into marriage. I had no hand in it, and I didn't even enjoy being with the man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/qandeel-baloch/i-was-17-when-i-was-forced-into-marriage-i-had-no-hand-in-it-and-i/) [Qandeel Baloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/qandeel-baloch/) > [“God forces us to quantify our religious tenants by measuring them against the family problems they solve. If your religious beliefs aren't solving family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-zehabe/god-forces-us-to-quantify-our-religious-tenants-by-measuring-them/) [Michael Ben Zehabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ben-zehabe/) > [You know, I'm the only one in this family who has no problems, . . . And you know why? Because any time I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-i-m-the-only-one-in-this-family-who-has-no-problems-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by A. B. Yehoshua > [The question of boundaries is a major question of the Jewish people because the Jews are the great experts of crossing boundaries. They have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/the-question-of-boundaries-is-a-major-question-of-the-jewish-people/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [In my own view, Hamas's frustration derives from a lack of legitimization by Israel and by much of the world. It is this frustration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/in-my-own-view-hamas-s-frustration-derives-from-a-lack-of/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [I am a serious reader, and I read slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/i-am-a-serious-reader-and-i-read-slowly/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [We have to rethink the two-state solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/we-have-to-rethink-the-two-state-solution/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [One of the dreams of Zionism was to be a bridge. Instead, we are creating exclusion between the East and the West instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/one-of-the-dreams-of-zionism-was-to-be-a-bridge-instead-we-are/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [So with truth - there is a certain moment when one can say, this is the truth and here I put a dot, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/so-with-truth-there-is-a-certain-moment-when-one-can-say-this-is-the/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [I deeply respect literature and expect to gain insight from a book and to identify emotionally with its characters. I therefore avoid reading suspense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/i-deeply-respect-literature-and-expect-to-gain-insight-from-a-book/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [Our synagogues are spread all over the world, and we want people to respect them and look after them. And we have to respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/our-synagogues-are-spread-all-over-the-world-and-we-want-people-to/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [The weapon of suicide bombing is so desperate that you aren't even left with the possibility of taking revenge or punishing anyone; the terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/the-weapon-of-suicide-bombing-is-so-desperate-that-you-aren-t-even/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [The literary trappings and moralizing of science fiction I find insufficiently compelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/the-literary-trappings-and-moralizing-of-science-fiction-i-find/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [Israel is too attached to America, too influenced by America. It should be connected to Europe. America is based on mythology - the free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/israel-is-too-attached-to-america-too-influenced-by-america-it-should/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [Since ideology is part of the human personality, it deserves a place in the kingdom of eternal truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/since-ideology-is-part-of-the-human-personality-it-deserves-a-place/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [In my DNA, the Zionist gene is extremely strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/in-my-dna-the-zionist-gene-is-extremely-strong/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [This is why I am a Zionist: because Diaspora leads to hatred and the Holocaust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/this-is-why-i-am-a-zionist-because-diaspora-leads-to-hatred-and-the/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) > [I admit I think it is immoral for Jews to live in the Diaspora.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-yehoshua/i-admit-i-think-it-is-immoral-for-jews-to-live-in-the-diaspora/) [A. B. Yehoshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) [Explore all 37 A. B. Yehoshua quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-yehoshua/) ## More Arabs quotes > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [You can't ignore reality. You won't wake up one morning and find that the Arabs of Umm al-Faham have become part of Palestine and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-ayalon/you-can-t-ignore-reality-you-won-t-wake-up-one-morning-and-find-that/) [Ami Ayalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-ayalon/) > [Why should the Arabs make peace? If I was an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/why-should-the-arabs-make-peace-if-i-was-an-arab-leader-i-would-never/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) > [For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [The reason we're getting bombed is 'cause we were on one side, and we're gonna remain on that side. We can't waver because these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmie-walker/the-reason-we-re-getting-bombed-is-cause-we-were-on-one-side-and-we/) Jimmie Walker > [“For the Arabs, and the above all for the 1.2 million Arabs of Palestine, the partitioning of the land in which they had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-collins/for-the-arabs-and-the-above-all-for-the-1-2-million-arabs-of/) [Larry Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-collins/) > [When American administration will find that their interest is to follow up with the international conference and to find peace in this area, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-arafat/when-american-administration-will-find-that-their-interest-is-to/) [Yasser Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-arafat/) > [I should much rather see a reasonable agreement with Arabs based upon living together than the creation of a Jewish state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-should-much-rather-see-a-reasonable-agreement-with-arabs-based-upon/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“I have always found it difficult not to be moved by Jerusalem, even when I hated it—and God knows I have hated it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-abulhawa/i-have-always-found-it-difficult-not-to-be-moved-by-jerusalem-even/) [Susan Abulhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-abulhawa/) > [Muslim brothers be damned; they're our greatest enemies. You know yourself that I'm a Muslim, even a fanatical Muslim. But that does nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/muslim-brothers-be-damned-they-re-our-greatest-enemies-you-know/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [We are used to thinking of the Arabs as primitive men of the desert, as a donkey-like nation that neither sees nor understands what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahad-ha-am/we-are-used-to-thinking-of-the-arabs-as-primitive-men-of-the-desert/) [Ahad Ha'am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahad-ha-am/) > [The separation of the Arabs from the rest of mankind has accustomed them to confound the ideas of stranger and enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-separation-of-the-arabs-from-the-rest-of-mankind-has-accustomed/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [My friend and I founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival to counter the negative images of Arabs in media. And we always made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maysoon-zayid/my-friend-and-i-founded-the-new-york-arab-american-comedy-festival-to/) [Maysoon Zayid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maysoon-zayid/) > [Any solution for the Iraqi problem cannot be reached without Arabs and Arab participation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amr-moussa/any-solution-for-the-iraqi-problem-cannot-be-reached-without-arabs/) [Amr Moussa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amr-moussa/) Browse all 213 Arabs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think about the Arabs not as enemies but as cousins. Even when we are in a fierce conflict with them, they are more of a kind of family - with all the problems of a family. We have to live with them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "A. B. 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