--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The central premise behind Oslo was that…" description: "\"The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg" --- # The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were… ![“The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror and make peace with Israel.” quote by Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg) > “The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror and make peace with Israel.” [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests legitimizing Arafat could lead to peace, assuming he’d turn power to fight terror. **In simple terms:** Legitimacy might make Arafat choose peace over terror. Key Takeaway Consider incentives when negotiating conflict. Themes politics peace negotiations leadership Mood cautious analytical Type analysis cautionary When to use this quote - diplomatic talks - policy drafting - peacebuilding workshops Key Concepts power dynamics conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - What risks arise from legitimizing hostile leaders? - How can trust be verified? A Different Perspective Assumes rational behavior despite complex motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arafat/) [Arafat Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arafat-given-3359085/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Legitimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimacy/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Oslo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oslo/) [Oslo Arafat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oslo-arafat-3359083/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Premise Oslo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/premise-oslo-3359084/) [Territory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/territory/) [Terror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terror/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [Like Mahmoud Abbas. He is not gaining anything. He puts conditions and Israel ignores them. Israel doesn’t give him any hint that they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-khaled/like-mahmoud-abbas-he-is-not-gaining-anything-he-puts-conditions-and/) [Leila Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-khaled/) > [It is not surprising, then, that in the decade since Oslo began, Arafat used all the resources placed at his disposal to fan the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/it-is-not-surprising-then-that-in-the-decade-since-oslo-began-arafat/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [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/) > [Arafat rejected the deal because, as a dictator who had directed all his energies toward strengthening the Palestinians hatred toward Israel, Arafat could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/arafat-rejected-the-deal-because-as-a-dictator-who-had-directed-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [I always enjoy Oslo. It's a beautiful city, especially on a cold winter day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-rutherford/i-always-enjoy-oslo-it-s-a-beautiful-city-especially-on-a-cold-winter/) [Greg Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-rutherford/) > [President Abbas and myself, we are the ones who signed the Oslo agreement, so we really know each other, not just theoretically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/president-abbas-and-myself-we-are-the-ones-who-signed-the-oslo/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“I en rodet lejlighed i Oslo forstod jeg, at man på en gang forsvinder, men samtidig bliver til, når man læser. Jeg forstod, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-en-rodet-lejlighed-i-oslo-forstod-jeg-at-man-p-en-gang-forsvinder/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you choose your profession, you also choose your own downfall or success. If one chooses to become an artist it is 99% certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/when-you-choose-your-profession-you-also-choose-your-own-downfall-or/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Although I dont know Oslo at all, there is something about the feel or the smell of the place that feels like home, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hanson/although-i-dont-know-oslo-at-all-there-is-something-about-the-feel-or/) [Alexander Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hanson/) > [The work that launched Snohetta into the architectural big leagues was their Oslo Opera House, which will certainly rank among the firm's highlights whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/the-work-that-launched-snohetta-into-the-architectural-big-leagues/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [Strange star-like object over Oslo right before Obama arrives. A gift of a golden medal given by a group of wise men... Nah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/strange-star-like-object-over-oslo-right-before-obama-arrives-a-gift/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [As I say, we Norwegians love our woolens, and you can buy some beautiful knitwear in Oslo. They might cost you a bit -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/as-i-say-we-norwegians-love-our-woolens-and-you-can-buy-some/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Although I don't know Oslo at all, there is something about the feel or the smell of the place that feels like home, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hanson/although-i-don-t-know-oslo-at-all-there-is-something-about-the-feel/) [Alexander Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hanson/) > [I was born in Oslo, Norway, but now live in the suburbs of Southwest London, right near the River Thames. It's a lovely part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hanson/i-was-born-in-oslo-norway-but-now-live-in-the-suburbs-of-southwest/) [Alexander Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hanson/) > [You can look at the West Bank. Cities are like prisons. They can be closed quickly by the Israeli forces, and everything stops in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-nasrallah/you-can-look-at-the-west-bank-cities-are-like-prisons-they-can-be/) [Hassan Nasrallah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-nasrallah/) ## More by Natan Sharansky > [The only peace that can be made with a dictator is once that must be based on deterrence. For today, the dictator may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-only-peace-that-can-be-made-with-a-dictator-is-once-that-must-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Democratic leaders, whose power is ultimately dependent on popular support, are held accountable for failing to improve the lives of their citizens. Therefore, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/democratic-leaders-whose-power-is-ultimately-dependent-on-popular/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [On the other hand, if the free world is concerned with how a new Palestinian leader governs, then the peace process will have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/on-the-other-hand-if-the-free-world-is-concerned-with-how-a-new/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [To go again over the history of the struggle of resistance ... and to think 'Where are all these people today Where is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/to-go-again-over-the-history-of-the-struggle-of-resistance-and-to/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Those who warned that Gorbachev was being put under too much pressure were wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/those-who-warned-that-gorbachev-was-being-put-under-too-much-pressure/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [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/) > [It is important to remember that some of the most serious thinkers once thought that democracy was not compatible with the cultures of Germany,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/it-is-important-to-remember-that-some-of-the-most-serious-thinkers/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Will dissent be permitted? The answer to that question will determine whether the society is a free society or a fear society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/will-dissent-be-permitted-the-answer-to-that-question-will-determine/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [When did America forget that it's America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/when-did-america-forget-that-it-s-america/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [They tried their best to find a place where I was isolated. But all the resources of a superpower cannot isolate the man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/they-tried-their-best-to-find-a-place-where-i-was-isolated-but-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Japan is not a Western democracy. The Japanese have kept their traditions, culture and heritage, but they have joined the community of free nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/japan-is-not-a-western-democracy-the-japanese-have-kept-their/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Arafat rejected the deal because, as a dictator who had directed all his energies toward strengthening the Palestinians hatred toward Israel, Arafat could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/arafat-rejected-the-deal-because-as-a-dictator-who-had-directed-all/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Of course, there can be serious injustices within free societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/of-course-there-can-be-serious-injustices-within-free-societies/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [My theory is that security - also against terror - can only be accomplished through global democratization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/my-theory-is-that-security-also-against-terror-can-only-be/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) > [Free nations generally look for ways to deal with dictators amicably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/free-nations-generally-look-for-ways-to-deal-with-dictators-amicably/) [Natan Sharansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) [Explore all 46 Natan Sharansky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/) ## 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": "The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and money, he would use his power to fight terror and make peace with Israel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natan Sharansky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that-if-arafat-were-given-enough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arafat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that-if-arafat-were-given-enough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/natan-sharansky-14573_arafat_the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that_1166042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The central premise behind Oslo was that if Arafat were given enough legitimacy, territory, weapons and…” — Natan Sharansky", "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": "Natan Sharansky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natan-sharansky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The central premise behind Oslo was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that-if-arafat-were-given-enough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natan-sharansky/the-central-premise-behind-oslo-was-that-if-arafat-were-given-enough/#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 } } ] } ```