Abba (born Aubrey) Eban (1915-2002) was a South African-born Israeli diplomat and politician. In 1947, he was the liaison for the Jewish Agency to the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP), formed after Britain announced it was terminating its mandate over Palestine. UNSCOP’s mandate was to propose a solution to the conflict in Palestine, resulting in UN Resolution 181 which called for the creation of a Jewish state and an Arab state.
This caricature drawn by an artist named Ross, shows Eban carrying the “Jewish case” to be presented to the 11 UNSCOP committee members (including Justice Ivan Rand of Canada).
One week after Israel was proclaimed, Eban was named Israel’s representative to the United Nations. At only 33, he was the youngest representative there.
For the next 10 years he served as both Israel’s first ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations. After returning to Israel, he served in the Knesset for three decades and held numerous cabinet positions. He was well known for his oration skills and his deft use of the English language.
In November 1975, in response to the UN resolution that Zionism is racism (which was revoked in 1991), Eban wrote in the New York Times: “The United Nations began its life as an anti-Nazi alliance. Thirty years later it is on its way to becoming the world centre of antisemitism.”
He added: “Zionism is nothing more, but also nothing less, than the Jewish People’s sense of origin and destination in the Land linked eternally with its name. It is also the instrument whereby the Jewish Nation seeks an authentic fulfillment of itself.”
It is important to remember Eban’s words. We cannot allow Israel’s detractors to define Zionism for us.
