---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had taken office during a raging…"
description: "\"“I had taken office during a raging intifada, with Yasser Arafat running the Palestinian Authority, Israeli leaders committed to a Greater Israel polic..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg"
---

#  I had taken office during a raging intifada, with Yasser…

![“I had taken office during a raging intifada, with Yasser Arafat running the Palestinian Authority, Israeli leaders committed to a Greater Israel policy, and Arab nations complaining from the sidelines. By the time I left, the Palestinians had a president and prime minister who rejected terrorism…” quote by George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg)

> ““I had taken office during a raging intifada, with Yasser Arafat running the Palestinian Authority, Israeli leaders committed to a Greater Israel policy, and Arab nations complaining from the sidelines. By the time I left, the Palestinians had a president and prime minister who rejected terrorism. The Israelis had withdrawn from some settlements and supported a two-state solution. And Arab nations were playing an active role in the peace process.””

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Bush describes the shift in Middle East politics during his term, noting progress toward Palestinian self‑government, Israeli settlement withdrawals, and Arab involvement in peace talks.

**In simple terms:** He notes political changes toward peace in the region.

Key Takeaway

Recognize incremental diplomatic progress.

Themes

politics peace diplomacy leadership

Mood

cautious optimistic

Type

political historical

When to use this quote

- peace negotiations
- policy analysis
- international relations

Key Concepts

conflict resolution statebuilding regional politics

Questions to Reflect On

- What factors most influence lasting peace?
- How can leaders sustain momentum?

A Different Perspective

Progress is uneven and fragile; setbacks can reverse gains.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Prime minister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prime-minister/)

## Related quotes

> [It's important to reach out to moderate Arab nations, like Jordan and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-s-important-to-reach-out-to-moderate-arab-nations-like-jordan-and/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I'm very much tied to the state of Israel, but I am against their policy of settlements in Palestine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/i-m-very-much-tied-to-the-state-of-israel-but-i-am-against-their/)

[Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/)

> [The fact that there could be an ISIS West Bank, the fact that the Palestinian government in Gaza doesn't even acknowledge Israel's right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-fact-that-there-could-be-an-isis-west-bank-the-fact-that-the/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [Already at the time of Israel's birth, Ben-Gurion extended his hand in peace to the Arab nations. His hand was rejected, but it remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/already-at-the-time-of-israel-s-birth-ben-gurion-extended-his-hand-in/)

[Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/)

> [It's particularly incumbent in the Middle East on Sunni Arab nations to fight for values, to fight for the protection of innocent life, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/it-s-particularly-incumbent-in-the-middle-east-on-sunni-arab-nations/)

[Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/)

> [Saddam Hussein has set an example of defiance, especially against the first President Bush, that other Arab leaders cannot and should not emulate; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/saddam-hussein-has-set-an-example-of-defiance-especially-against-the/)

[Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/)

> [Many critics of the Palestinians, especially those in Congress, think the current calm is merely the eye of the storm. That's why the House…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-fields/many-critics-of-the-palestinians-especially-those-in-congress-think/)

[Suzanne Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-fields/)

> [Unless Hamas recognizes Israel's right to exist and renounces terror, the Palestinian Authority should receive no direct U.S. assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-capps/unless-hamas-recognizes-israel-s-right-to-exist-and-renounces-terror/)

[Lois Capps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-capps/)

> [The Palestinian Authority has become the biggest terror body in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naftali-bennett/the-palestinian-authority-has-become-the-biggest-terror-body-in-the/)

[Naftali Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naftali-bennett/)

> [The Palestinian Authority refuses on an ongoing basis to take the necessary steps to prevent terrorists from getting into Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baker/the-palestinian-authority-refuses-on-an-ongoing-basis-to-take-the/)

[David Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baker/)

> [We have to recognize that there is a Palestinian entity, that the PLO and the Palestinian Authority has to run their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yitzhak-rabin/we-have-to-recognize-that-there-is-a-palestinian-entity-that-the-plo/)

[Yitzhak Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yitzhak-rabin/)

> [Of course, Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with anyone who is dedicated to its destruction. But while I know you have had differences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/of-course-israel-cannot-be-expected-to-negotiate-with-anyone-who-is/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [The Hamas organization is unwilling to honor the obligations that the Palestinian Authority has signed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-katsav/the-hamas-organization-is-unwilling-to-honor-the-obligations-that-the/)

[Moshe Katsav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-katsav/)

> [The Palestinian society is split into two - those who are openly calling for Israel's destruction like Hamas, and those who are not calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/the-palestinian-society-is-split-into-two-those-who-are-openly/)

[Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/)

> [The Palestinian economy is, and will likely continue to be, highly reliant on trade. And yet, trade between the Palestinian Authority and the Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-bronfman-sr/the-palestinian-economy-is-and-will-likely-continue-to-be-highly/)

[Edgar Bronfman, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-bronfman-sr/)

## More by George W. Bush

> [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/you-can-fool-some-of-the-people-all-the-time-and-those-are-the-ones/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [The tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-tyrant-has-fallen-and-iraq-is-free/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“One of our energy strategies is to increase the CAFE standards to 35 miles per hour..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/one-of-our-energy-strategies-is-to-increase-the-cafe-standards-to-35/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [There's a lot that I want to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/there-s-a-lot-that-i-want-to-accomplish/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [If he's - the inference is that somehow he thinks slavery is a - is a noble institution I would - I would strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-he-s-the-inference-is-that-somehow-he-thinks-slavery-is-a-is-a/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [On 9-11, we discovered that we cannot escape from the world. To me personally, this was a life-changing experience, and I realized, as did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/on-9-11-we-discovered-that-we-cannot-escape-from-the-world-to-me/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Chanukah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-couldn-t-imagine-somebody-like-osama-bin-laden-understanding-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

[Explore all 1,717 George W. Bush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

## More Israel quotes

> [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/)

[David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/)

> [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/)

[Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/)

> [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [In the Green Zone in Iraq you have your radio, you have your food, you have your own electricity, your own toilets. Everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/in-the-green-zone-in-iraq-you-have-your-radio-you-have-your-food-you/)

[Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/)

> [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/)

[Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/)

[Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/)

> [“Hitler invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Much to the bafflement of the Allies, however, Pope Pius XII said nothing. He refused to condemn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-shahrad/hitler-invaded-poland-on-1-september-1939-much-to-the-bafflement-of/)

[Cyrus Shahrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-shahrad/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/)

[Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/)

> [I am a peace supporting Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-am-a-peace-supporting-jew/)

[Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/)

> [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/)

James Cross Giblin

[Browse all 16,724 Israel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I had taken office during a raging intifada, with Yasser Arafat running the Palestinian Authority, Israeli leaders committed to a Greater Israel policy, and Arab nations complaining from the sidelines. By the time I left, the Palestinians had a president and prime minister who rejected terrorism. The Israelis had withdrawn from some settlements and supported a two-state solution. And Arab nations were playing an active role in the peace process.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "George W. Bush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intifada-with-yasser-arafat/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Israel"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intifada-with-yasser-arafat/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab5/george-w-bush-64_leadership_i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intif_1960046.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I had taken office during a raging intifada, with Yasser Arafat running the Palestinian Authority, Israeli…” — George W. Bush",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "George W. Bush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I had taken office during a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intifada-with-yasser-arafat/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-had-taken-office-during-a-raging-intifada-with-yasser-arafat/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
