1994年，阿拉法特与以色列总理拉宾、外长佩雷斯共同获得该年的诺贝尔和平奖

YourMajesties，

EsteemedChairmanandMembersoftheNorwegianNobelPrizeCommittee，

TheHonorablePrimeMinisterofNorway，

MyFellowLaureates，ChairmanArafatandtheForeignMinisterofIsraelShimonPeres，

DistinguishedGuests，

SinceIdon''''tbelievethattherewasanyprecedentthatonepersongottheNobelPrizetwice，allowmeonthisopportunitytoattachtothisprestigiousaward，apersonaltouch.

AtanagewhenmostyoungstersarestrugglingtounravelthesecretsofmathematicsandthemysteriesoftheBible；atanagewhenfirstloveblooms；atthetenderageofsixteen，IwashandedariflesothatIcoulddefendmyself.

Thatwasnotmydream.Iwantedtobeawaterengineer.IstudiedinanagriculturalschoolandIthoughtbeingawaterengineerwasanimportantprofessionintheparchedMiddleEast.Istillthinksotoday.However，Iwascompelledtoresorttothegun.

Iservedinthemilitaryfordecades.Undermyresponsibility，youngmenandwomenwhowantedtolive，wantedtolove，wenttotheirdeathsinstead.Theyfellinthedefenseofourlives.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Inmycurrentposition，IhaveampleopportunitytoflyovertheStateofIsrael，andlatelyoverotherpartsoftheMiddleEastaswell.Theviewfromtheplaneisbreathtaking；deep-blueseasandlakes，dark-greenfields，dune-coloreddeserts，stone-graymountains，andtheentirecountrysidepepperedwithwhite-washed，red-roofedhouses.

Andalsocemeteries.Gravesasfarastheeyecansee.

Hundredsofcemeteriesinourpartoftheworld，intheMiddleEast——inourhomeinIsrael，butalsoinEgypt，inSyria，Jordan，Lebanon.Fromtheplane''''swindow，fromthethousandsoffeetabovethem，thecountlesstombstonesaresilent.ButthesoundoftheiroutcryhascarriedfromtheMiddleEastthroughouttheworldfordecades.

Standingheretoday，Iwishtosaluteourlovedones——andpastfoes.Iwishtosaluteallofthem——thefallenofallthecountriesinallthewars；themembersoftheirfamilieswhobeartheenduringburdenofbereavement；thedisabledwhosescarswillneverheal.Tonight，Iwishtopaytributetoeachandeveryoneofthem，forthisimportantprizeistheirs.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Iwasayoungmanwhohasnowgrownfullyinyears.InHebrew，wesay，''''Na''''arhayiti，ve-gamzakanti''''[Iwasayoungman，whohasgrownfullyinyears].AndofallthememoriesIhavestoredupinmyseventy-twoyears，whatIshallremembermost，tomylastday，arethesilences：Theheavysilenceofthemomentafter，andtheterrifyingsilenceofthemomentbefore.

Asamilitaryman，asacommander，asaministerofdefense，Iorderedtocarryoutmanymilitaryoperations.Andtogetherwiththejoyofvictoryandthegriefofbereavement，Ishallalwaysrememberthemomentjustaftertakingsuchdecisions：thehushasseniorofficersorcabinetministersslowlyrisefromtheirseats；thesightoftheirrecedingbacks；thesoundoftheclosingdoor；andthenthesilenceinwhichIremainalone.

Thatisthemomentyougraspthatasaresultofthedecisionjustmade，peoplemightgototheirdeaths.Peoplefrommynation，peoplefromothernations.Andtheystilldon''''tknowit.

Atthathour，theyarestilllaughingandweeping；stillweavingplansanddreamingaboutlove；stillmusingaboutplantingagardenorbuildingahouse——andtheyhavenoideathesearetheirlasthoursonearth.Whichofthemisfatedtodie？Whosepicturewillappearintheblackframeintomorrow''''snewspaper？Whosemotherwillsoonbeinmourning？Whoseworldwillcrumbleundertheweightoftheloss？

Asaformermilitaryman，Iwillalsoforeverrememberthesilenceofthemomentbefore：thehushwhenthehandsoftheclockseemtobespinningforward，whentimeisrunningoutandinanotherhour，anotherminute，theinfernowillerupt.

Inthatmomentofgreattensionjustbeforethefingerpullsthetrigger，justbeforethefusebeginstoburn；intheterriblequietofthemoment，thereisstilltimetowonder，towonderalone：Isitreallyimperativetoact？Istherenootherchoice？Nootherway？

''''Godtakespityonkindergartners，''''wrotethepoetYehudahAmichai，whoisherewithusthisevening——andIquotehis：

''''Godtakespityonkindergartners，

Lesssoontheschoolchildren，

Andwillnolongerpitytheirelders，

Leavingthemtotheirown，

Andsometimestheywillhavetocrawlonallfours，

Throughtheburningsand，

Toreachthecasualtystation，

Bleeding.''''

Fordecades，GodhasnottakenpityonthekindergartnersintheMiddleEast，ortheschoolchildren，ortheirelders.TherehasbeennopityintheMiddleEastforgenerations.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Iwasayoungmanwhohasnowgrownfullyinyears.AndofallthememoriesIhavestoredupinmyseventy-twoyears，Inowrecallthehopes.

Ourpeoplehavechosenustogivethemlife.Terribleasitistosay，theirlivesareinourhands.Tonight，theireyesareuponusandtheirheartsareasking：Howisthepowervestedinthesemenandwomenbeingused？Whatwilltheydecide？Intowhatkindofmorningwillwerisetomorrow？Adayofpeace？Ofwar？Oflaughter？Oftears？

Achildisborninanutterlyundemocraticway.Hecannotchoosehisfatherandmother.Hecannotpickhissexorcolor，hisreligion，nationalityorhomeland.Whetherheisborninamanororamanger，whetherhelivesunderadespoticordemocraticregimeisnothischoice.Fromthemomenthecomes，close-fisted，intotheworld，hisfate——toalargeextent——isdecidedbyhisnation''''sleaders.Itistheywhowilldecidewhetherhelivesincomfortorindespair，insecurityorinfear.Hisfateisgiventoustoresolve——tothegovernmentsofcountries，democraticorotherwise.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Justasnotwofingerprintsareidentical，sonotwopeoplearealike，andeverycountryhasitsownlawsandculture，traditionsandleaders.Butthereisoneuniversalmessagewhichcanembracetheentireworld，onepreceptwhichcanbecommontodifferentregimes，toraceswhichbearnoresemblance，toculturesthatarealientoeachother.

ItisamessagewhichtheJewishpeoplehascarriedforthousandsofyears，themessagefoundintheBookofBooks：''''Ve''''nishmartemme''''odl''''nafshoteichem''''——''''Thereforetakegoodheedofyourselves''''——or，incontemporaryterms，themessageofthesanctityoflife.

Theleadersofnationsmustprovidetheirpeopleswiththeconditions——theinfrastructure，ifyouwill——whichenablesthemtoenjoylife：freedomofspeechandmovement；foodandshelter；andmostimportantofall：lifeitself.Amancannotenjoyhisrightsifheisnotalive.Andsoeverycountrymustprotectandpreservethekeyelementinitsnationalethos：thelivesofitscitizens.

Onlytodefendthoselives，wecancalluponourcitizenstoenlistinthearmy.Andtodefendthelivesofourcitizensservinginthearmy，weinvesthugesumsinplanesandtanks，andothermeans.Yetdespiteitall，wefailtoprotectthelivesofourcitizensandsoldiers.Militarycemeteriesineverycorneroftheworldaresilenttestimonytothefailureofnationalleaderstosanctifyhumanlife.

Thereisonlyoneradicalmeansforsanctifyinghumanlife.Theoneradicalsolutionisarealpeace.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Theprofessionofsoldieringembracesacertainparadox.Wetakethebestandthebravestofouryoungmenintothearmy.Wesupplythemwithequipmentwhichcostsavirtualfortune.Werigorouslytrainthemforthedaywhentheymustdotheirduty——andweexpectthemtodoitwell.Yetweferventlypraythatthatdaywillnevercome——thattheplaneswillnevertakeoff，thetankswillnevermoveforward，thesoldierswillnevermounttheattacksforwhichtheyhavebeentrainedsowell.

Wepraythatitwillneverhappen，becauseofthesanctityoflife.

Historyasawhole，andmodernhistoryinparticular，hasknownharrowingtimeswhennationalleadersturnedtheircitizensintocannonfodderinthenameofwickeddoctrines：viciousFascism，terribleNazism.Picturesofchildrenmarchingtoslaughter，photosofterrifiedwomenatthegatesofthecrematoriamustloombeforetheeyesofeveryleaderinourgeneration，andthegenerationstocome.Theymustserveasawarningtoallwhowieldpower.

Almostallregimeswhichdidnotplacethesanctityoflifeattheheartoftheirworldview，allthoseregimeshavecollapsedandarenomore.Youcanseeitforyourselvesinourowntime.

Yetthisisnotthewholepicture.Topreservethesanctityoflife，wemustsometimesriskit.Sometimesthereisnootherwaytodefendourcitizensthantofightfortheirlives，fortheirsafetyandfreedom.Thisisthecreedofeverydemocraticstate.

IntheStateofIsrael，fromwhichIcometoday；intheIsraelDefenseForces，whichIhavehadtheprivilegetoserve，wehavealwaysviewedthesanctityoflifeasasupremevalue.Wehavenevergonetowarunlessawarwasforcedonus.

ThehistoryoftheStateofIsrael，theannalsoftheIsraelDefenseForces，arefilledwiththousandsofstoriesofsoldierswhosacrificedthemselves——whodiedwhiletryingtosavewoundedcomrades；whogavetheirlivestoavoidcausingharmtoinnocentpeopleontheirenemy''''sside.

Inthecomingdays，aspecialcommissionoftheIsraelDefenseForceswillfinishdraftingaCodeofConductforoursoldiers.Theformulationregardinghumanlifewillreadasfollows，andIquote：

''''Inrecognitionofitssupremeimportance，thesoldierwillpreservehumanlifeineverywaypossibleandendangerhimself，orothers，onlytotheextentdeemednecessarytofulfillthismission.''''Thesanctityoflife，inthepointofviewofthesoldiersoftheIsraelDefenseForces，willfindexpressioninalltheiractions.''''

Formanyyearsahead——evenifwarscometoanend，afterpeacecomestoourland——thesewordswillremainapillaroffirewhichgoesbeforeourcamp，aguidinglightforourpeople.Andwetakeprideinthat.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Weareinthemidstofbuildingthepeace.Thearchitectsandtheengineersofthisenterpriseareengagedintheirworkevenaswegatherheretonight，buildingthepeace，layerbylayer，brickbybrick.Thejobisdifficult，complex，trying.Mistakescouldtopplethewholestructureandbringdisasterdownuponus.

Andsowearedeterminedtodothejobwell——despitethetollofmurderousterrorism，despitethefanaticandcruelenemiesofpeace.

Wewillpursuethecourseofpeacewithdeterminationandfortitude.Wewillnotletup.Wewillnotgivein.Peacewilltriumphoverallitsenemies，becausethealternativeisgrimmerforusall.Andwewillprevail.

Wewillprevailbecauseweregardthebuildingofpeaceasagreatblessingforus，forourchildrenafterus.Weregarditasablessingforourneighborsonallsides，andforourpartnersinthisenterprise——theUnitedStates，Russia，Norway——whichdidsomuchtobringtheagreementthatwassignedhere，lateroninWashington，lateroninCairo，thatwroteabeginningofthesolutiontothelongestandmostdifficultpartoftheArab-Israeliconflict：thePalestinian-Israelione.Wethankotherswhohavecontributedtoit，too.

Wewakeupeverymorning，now，asdifferentpeople.Peaceispossible.Weseethehopeinourchildren''''seyes.Weseethelightinoursoldiers''''faces，inthestreets，inthebuses，inthefields.Wemustnotletthemdown.Wewillnotletthemdown.

Istandherenotalonetoday，onthissmallrostruminOslo.IamheretospeakinthenameofgenerationsofIsraelisandJews，oftheshepherdsofIsrael——andyouknowthatKingDavidwasashepherd；hestartedtobuildJerusalemabout3，000yearsago——theherdsmenanddressersofsycamoretrees，andastheProphetAmoswas；oftherebelsagainsttheestablishment，astheProphetJeremiahwas；andofmenwhowentdowntothesea，liketheProphetJonah.

Iamheretospeakinthenameofthepoetsandofthosewhodreamedofanendtowar，liketheProphetIsaiah.

IamalsoheretospeakinthenamesofsonsoftheJewishpeoplelikeAlbertEinsteinandBaruchSpinoza，likeMaimonides，SigmundFreudandFranzKafka.

AndIamtheemissaryofmillionswhoperishedintheHolocaust，amongwhomweresurelymanyEinsteinsandFreudswhowerelosttous，andtohumanity，intheflamesofthecrematoria.

IamhereastheemissaryofJerusalem，atwhosegatesIfoughtinthedaysofsiege；Jerusalemwhichhasalwaysbeen，andistoday，thepeople，whopraytowardJerusalemthreetimesaday.

AndIamalsotheemissaryofthechildrenwhodrewtheirvisionsofpeace；andoftheimmigrantsfromSt.PetersburgandAddisAbaba.

Istandheremainlyforthegenerationstocome，sothatwemayallbedeemedworthyofthemedalwhichyouhavebestowedonmeandmycolleaguestoday.

Istandhereastheemissarytoday——iftheywillallowme——ofourneighborswhowereourenemies.Istandhereastheemissaryofthesoaringhopesofapeoplewhichhasenduredtheworstthathistoryhastoofferandneverthelessmadeitsmark——notjustonthechroniclesoftheJewishpeoplebutonallmankind.

WithmeherearefivemillioncitizensofIsrael——Jews，Arabs，DruzeandCircassians——fivemillionheartsbeatingforpeace，andfivemillionpairsofeyeswhichlookatuswithsuchgreatexpectationsforpeace.

LadiesandGentlemen，

Iwishtothank，firstandforemost，thosecitizensoftheStateofIsrael，ofallthegenerations，ofallthepoliticalpersuasions，whosesacrificesandrelentlessstruggleforpeacebringussteadierclosertoourgoal.

Iwishtothankourpartners——theEgyptians，theJordanians，andthePalestinians，thatareledbytheChairmanofthePalestinianLiberationOrganization，Mr.YasserArafat，withwhomwesharethisNobelPrize——whohavechosenthepathofpeaceandarewritinganewpageintheannalsoftheMiddleEast.

IwishtothankthemembersoftheIsraeligovernment，butaboveallmypartnertheForeignMinister，Mr.ShimonPeres，whoseenergyanddevotiontothecauseofpeaceareanexampletousall.

IwishtothankmyfamilythatsupportedmeallthelongwaythatIhavepassed.

And，ofcourse，IwishtothanktheChairman，themembersoftheNobelPrizeCommitteeandthecourageousNorwegianpeopleforbestowingthisillustrioushonoronmycolleaguesandmyself.

LadiesandGentlemen，

AllowmetoclosebysharingwithyouatraditionalJewishblessingwhichhasbeenrecitedbymypeople，ingoodtimesandbadones，asatokenoftheirdeepestlonging：

''''TheLordwillgivestrengthtohispeople；theLordwillblesshispeople——andallofus——inpeace.''''

Thankyouverymuch.