This has been probably one of the most tragic events to hit Israel certainly since the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin. Sharon is not just a leader who is very respected, he's also a leader who is very much loved by the people.

From now on, nothing is impossible for Israel, which is a normal country like any other. We won't wait another half a century to sit on the Security Council.

Thank God that the fate of Israel and of the Jewish people is not decided in this hall.

This is not a dramatic development, as Israel also favors a Middle East clean of nuclear weapons, when no threat will exist. The Iranian issue is what the UN is dealing with. The message is clear: Iran poses an immediate and terrifying global threat and it is good that the world has come to its senses.

I have never been bribed as a Prime Minister.

Clearly I am not going to be a candidate for prime minister because they tell me to, ... They certainly expressed support for the idea that if the process is done locally then they would not oppose it.