Abba Eban

thumb|History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. Abba Eban (February 2, 1915 – November 16, 2002), born Aubrey Solomon Eban, was an Israeli diplomat, politician and author. He was born in South Africa and educated in England. Quotes History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. Speech in London (16 December 1970); as quoted in The Times ([London] 17 December 1970) and in Great Jewish Quotations (1996) by Alfred J. Kolatch, p. 115. I think that this is the first war in history that on the morrow the victors sued for peace and the vanquished called for unconditional surrender. Abba Eban "Israel's Dilemmas: An Opportunity Squandered" in Stephen J. Roth, ed. The Impact of the Six-Day War: A Twenty-Year Assessment. The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. As quoted in The Jerusalem Post (18 November 2002); often misquoted as "Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." The quote is attributed to Abba Eban after the Geneva Peace Conference with Arab countries (21 December 1973). If Algeria introduced a resolution declaring that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions. Comment about the United Nations General Assembly, as quoted in The Guardian (3 February 2004). Reputedly stated between the Six-Day War in 1967 and United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379 in 1975 (revoked in 1991) which claimed Zionism is a form of racism. External links Profile at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs A Collection of Abba Eban's speeches Abba Eban Centre for Israeli Diplomacy Category:Foreign Affairs Ministers of Israel Category:Israeli Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Category:1915 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Political leaders Category:Politicians from Israel Category:People from Cape Town Category:Ambassadors Category:Diplomats of Israel Category:Jews from Israel Category:People of the Cold War