--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. I…" description: "\"I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. I cannot know in advance whether, behind all the masks, he's the kind of leader who can reach an agreement or wh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ehud-barak-4791_arafat_i-cannot-penetrate-the-soul-of-arafat-i_1012484.png" --- # I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. I cannot know in… ![“I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. I cannot know in advance whether, behind all the masks, he's the kind of leader who can reach an agreement or whether he wants to be the Moses of the Palestinians, staying in front of the river and not crossing into the promised land.” quote by Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ehud-barak-4791_arafat_i-cannot-penetrate-the-soul-of-arafat-i_1012484.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ehud-barak-4791_arafat_i-cannot-penetrate-the-soul-of-arafat-i_1012484.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/ehud-barak-4791_arafat_i-cannot-penetrate-the-soul-of-arafat-i_1012484.png) > “I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. I cannot know in advance whether, behind all the masks, he's the kind of leader who can reach an agreement or whether he wants to be the Moses of the Palestinians, staying in front of the river and not crossing into the promised land.” [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker doubts Arafat’s true intentions and ability to negotiate peace. **In simple terms:** Uncertain about Arafat’s motives. Key Takeaway Seek deeper insight. Themes politics peace leadership Mood skeptical reflective Type political analytical When to use this quote - diplomatic talks - peace negotiations - leadership evaluation Key Concepts conflict resolution trust assessment Questions to Reflect On - What factors reveal a leader’s true goals? - How can negotiators build trust? A Different Perspective Leaders may hide motives, making predictions risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arafat/) [Arafat Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arafat-know-2206964/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Masks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masks/) [Moses Palestinians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses-palestinians-2206965/) [Promised land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promised-land/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Soul Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-arafat-2206963/) [Wants Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-moses-2206966/) ## Related quotes > [I am the Israeli leader who met most with Arafat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-am-the-israeli-leader-who-met-most-with-arafat/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Arafat is hosting, training, supporting, sponsoring terrorist organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/arafat-is-hosting-training-supporting-sponsoring-terrorist/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [Whoever stands by a just cause cannot possibly be called a terrorist. -Yassar Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/call-of-duty/whoever-stands-by-a-just-cause-cannot-possibly-be-called-a-terrorist/) [Call Of Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/call-of-duty/) > [Unfortunately, little attention was paid to how Arafat ruled. In fact, some saw the harsh and repressive nature of Arafat's regime as actually bolstering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/unfortunately-little-attention-was-paid-to-how-arafat-ruled-in-fact/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [I also do not believe that the United States can let itself be driven into a political role by escalating terrorism, and therefore, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-also-do-not-believe-that-the-united-states-can-let-itself-be-driven/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [In my view, Arafat is the only Palestinian in the world that isn't willing to have an independent Palestinian state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvan-shalom/in-my-view-arafat-is-the-only-palestinian-in-the-world-that-isn-t/) [Silvan Shalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvan-shalom/) > [Hamas, the opponents of Arafat, the opponents of peace, urged a boycott of the election, and yet there was an 85 percent turnout where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/hamas-the-opponents-of-arafat-the-opponents-of-peace-urged-a-boycott/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [ \[Israel will\] create in the course of the next 10 or 20 years conditions which would attract natural and voluntary migration of the refugees… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/israel-will-create-in-the-course-of-the-next-10-or-20-years/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas have recognized Israel's right to exist. The Israeli government has never recognized our right to a sovereign state and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-mashal/yasser-arafat-and-mahmoud-abbas-have-recognized-israel-s-right-to/) [Khaled Mashal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-mashal/) > [Arafat was a barrier to peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/arafat-was-a-barrier-to-peace/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In many ways, I regard Sharon and Arafat as birds of a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/in-many-ways-i-regard-sharon-and-arafat-as-birds-of-a-feather/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [The principal sponsors of the terrorists are not religious fanatics. "Palestine's Yasser Arafat, Iraq's Saddam Hussein, and Syria's Assad family have made themselves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-principal-sponsors-of-the-terrorists-are-not-religious-fanatics/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Khomeini was not a puppet like Arafat or Qaddafi or the many other dictators I met in the Islamic world. He was a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/khomeini-was-not-a-puppet-like-arafat-or-qaddafi-or-the-many-other/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Ask Bill Clinton about Yasir Arafat. Clinton and Barak did everything they could in 2000 at Camp David. Arafat walked away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ask-bill-clinton-about-yasir-arafat-clinton-and-barak-did-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Arafat contradicts himself every five minutes. He always plays the double-cross, lies even if you ask him what time it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/arafat-contradicts-himself-every-five-minutes-he-always-plays-the/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) ## More by Ehud Barak > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [There is a thin line between peace of the brave and peace of the hostage... between compromise - even calculated risk - and irresponsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/there-is-a-thin-line-between-peace-of-the-brave-and-peace-of-the/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The Middle East is a region where predictions go to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-middle-east-is-a-region-where-predictions-go-to-die/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The Israel legendary foreign minister, Abba Eban, used to say that the Palestinians had never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-israel-legendary-foreign-minister-abba-eban-used-to-say-that-the/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [With the globalization, it's difficult for governments to impose decisions on private companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/with-the-globalization-it-s-difficult-for-governments-to-impose/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I delivered lectures, and I was also a consultant for international companies in finance, both private equity and big venture capital funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-delivered-lectures-and-i-was-also-a-consultant-for-international/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The aim of the Palestinian terror is not just to kill Israelis but also to break the will of Israeli society in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-aim-of-the-palestinian-terror-is-not-just-to-kill-israelis-but/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I will not discuss future hypothetical situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-will-not-discuss-future-hypothetical-situations/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I am the Israeli leader who met most with Arafat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-am-the-israeli-leader-who-met-most-with-arafat/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [At this place, Jews have prayed throughout the generations, and it is fitting that the message of brotherhood should go out from here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/at-this-place-jews-have-prayed-throughout-the-generations-and-it-is/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Hezbollah will support Assad to the end because his continuing hold on power is critical to its own survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/hezbollah-will-support-assad-to-the-end-because-his-continuing-hold/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I know Fiat plans to start manufacturing cars in Iran. This is wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-know-fiat-plans-to-start-manufacturing-cars-in-iran-this-is-wrong/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [I remember my days as a graduate student at Stanford, within any leading university, a very active Israeli support, for Israel, Jews fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-remember-my-days-as-a-graduate-student-at-stanford-within-any/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The Left is acting like a young child, saying 'I want peace'... A child says 'I want candy right away,' an adult takes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/the-left-is-acting-like-a-young-child-saying-i-want-peace-a-child/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [As prime minister, I was the Israeli leader who walked the greatest distance in his offers to the Palestinians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/as-prime-minister-i-was-the-israeli-leader-who-walked-the-greatest/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) [Explore all 106 Ehud Barak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) ## More Arafat quotes > [Arafat is hosting, training, supporting, sponsoring terrorist organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/arafat-is-hosting-training-supporting-sponsoring-terrorist/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [Ask Bill Clinton about Yasir Arafat. Clinton and Barak did everything they could in 2000 at Camp David. Arafat walked away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ask-bill-clinton-about-yasir-arafat-clinton-and-barak-did-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Khomeini was not a puppet like Arafat or Qaddafi or the many other dictators I met in the Islamic world. He was a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/khomeini-was-not-a-puppet-like-arafat-or-qaddafi-or-the-many-other/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [The principal sponsors of the terrorists are not religious fanatics. "Palestine's Yasser Arafat, Iraq's Saddam Hussein, and Syria's Assad family have made themselves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/the-principal-sponsors-of-the-terrorists-are-not-religious-fanatics/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [I am the Israeli leader who met most with Arafat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-am-the-israeli-leader-who-met-most-with-arafat/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [In many ways, I regard Sharon and Arafat as birds of a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-oz/in-many-ways-i-regard-sharon-and-arafat-as-birds-of-a-feather/) [Amos Oz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-oz/) > [Arafat was a barrier to peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/arafat-was-a-barrier-to-peace/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas have recognized Israel's right to exist. The Israeli government has never recognized our right to a sovereign state and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-mashal/yasser-arafat-and-mahmoud-abbas-have-recognized-israel-s-right-to/) [Khaled Mashal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-mashal/) > [ \[Israel will\] create in the course of the next 10 or 20 years conditions which would attract natural and voluntary migration of the refugees… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/israel-will-create-in-the-course-of-the-next-10-or-20-years/) [Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/) > [Hamas, the opponents of Arafat, the opponents of peace, urged a boycott of the election, and yet there was an 85 percent turnout where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/hamas-the-opponents-of-arafat-the-opponents-of-peace-urged-a-boycott/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [In my view, Arafat is the only Palestinian in the world that isn't willing to have an independent Palestinian state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvan-shalom/in-my-view-arafat-is-the-only-palestinian-in-the-world-that-isn-t/) [Silvan Shalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvan-shalom/) > [I also do not believe that the United States can let itself be driven into a political role by escalating terrorism, and therefore, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-also-do-not-believe-that-the-united-states-can-let-itself-be-driven/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Unfortunately, little attention was paid to how Arafat ruled. In fact, some saw the harsh and repressive nature of Arafat's regime as actually bolstering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/unfortunately-little-attention-was-paid-to-how-arafat-ruled-in-fact/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Whoever stands by a just cause cannot possibly be called a terrorist. -Yassar Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/call-of-duty/whoever-stands-by-a-just-cause-cannot-possibly-be-called-a-terrorist/) [Call Of Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/call-of-duty/) > [Arafat contradicts himself every five minutes. He always plays the double-cross, lies even if you ask him what time it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/arafat-contradicts-himself-every-five-minutes-he-always-plays-the/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) [Browse all 57 Arafat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arafat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I cannot penetrate the soul of Arafat. 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