You can only end a negotiation for peace if you begin it.

Hear the words of Benjamin Netanyahu, spoken with the weight of one who has lived through conflict and sought the path of reconciliation: “You can only end a negotiation for peace if you begin it.” These words, though simple, carry the strength of iron truth. For they remind us that no ending, whether glorious or bitter, can ever come without a beginning, and that peace, though elusive, demands the courage of the first step. Without the will to enter into dialogue, there can be no resolution, no treaty, no rest for weary souls.

The meaning is both practical and profound. Negotiations are often feared, for they require humility, compromise, and the setting aside of pride. Many avoid them, clinging to grievance or waiting for the other side to act first. But Netanyahu declares that unless the table is set, unless voices are raised in dialogue, there will never be an end to hostility. Peace cannot fall from the heavens fully formed—it must be shaped by human hands, hammered out word by word, concession by concession, until it stands firm. The beginning, though fraught with mistrust, is the key that unlocks the possibility of the end.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Israel’s long and painful history. Surrounded by conflict, war, and division, Netanyahu understood that peace would not be a gift delivered freely, but a prize won through dialogue, however difficult. The Middle East, scarred by cycles of violence, has seen moments of hope—the Camp David Accords, the Oslo process—where leaders dared to begin negotiations, even when the path seemed impossible. Some attempts failed, some bore fragile fruit, but all reminded the world that without a beginning, the story of peace can never be written.

History across the ages echoes this truth. Consider the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years’ War—a conflict so devastating that it nearly consumed all of Europe. That treaty, which established the principles of modern diplomacy, was not born from victory alone, but from the willingness of bitter enemies to sit together, to begin the slow and painful process of negotiation. Had they not begun, the war would have dragged on, consuming generations. The lesson of Westphalia, like Netanyahu’s words, is eternal: only those who start the dialogue can hope to see its end.

O children of tomorrow, hear this: peace does not come to those who wait in silence, but to those who dare to begin the conversation. Pride will whisper to you, “Do not move first, let the other side yield.” Fear will whisper, “Nothing will change, why waste your effort?” But wisdom cries louder: “Take the step. Light the first candle. Begin.” For the act of beginning, even if imperfect, even if fragile, opens the door to a future where peace can take root.

Reflect upon your own life. How many quarrels have endured because neither side would begin the dialogue? How many friendships have withered because no word of reconciliation was spoken? Just as nations suffer when leaders refuse to talk, so too do individuals when pride holds them back. The courage to begin—to make the call, to extend the hand, to speak the first word—is the seed of resolution in every conflict.

The lesson is clear: if you desire peace—whether in your family, your community, or your nation—you must have the courage to begin. Do not wait endlessly for others. Do not let fear of rejection or failure hold you captive. Begin the conversation, even if your voice trembles. For in beginning lies the possibility of ending, and in ending lies the blessing of peace.

So let Netanyahu’s words endure as timeless counsel: “You can only end a negotiation for peace if you begin it.” Begin, therefore, wherever conflict dwells in your life. Begin, for without the first step, the last will never come. And may your beginnings, humble though they may be, open the path to peace that will outlast generations.