A
Father of the State of Israel Dies At Age 87
By
Ike Mgbatogu
<Posted:
Onumba.com / January 16, 2003>
Abba
Eban, one of the founding fathers of the state of Israel
died November 17 at the age of 87.
A
giant during the critical years of the evolution of
the state of Israel, Eban was appointed ambassador to
the United Nations at the age of 31. In his role as
ambassador, he was instrumental in pitching the idea
of creating the state of Israel in the heart of the
Arab world. By a narrow margin, the United Nations voted
to establish the state of Israel on November 29, 1947.
Eban
served as Israeli foreign minister from 1966 to 1974,
an era characterized by deep-seated hostility between
the Arab states and the new state of Israel.
During
his years of leadership, Eban's incredible gift of rhetorical
eloquence helped immeasurably in the international furtherance
of the Israeli cause.
A
well-respected statesman, Eban condemned the Palestinian
leadership for squandering endless opportunities to
make peace with Israel. Yet as a pragmatist, he was
unreservedly critical of the Israeli policy of building
and expanding Jewish settlements in captured Palestinian
territories, arguing instead for a more realistic and
accommodating policy that would return the land to the
Palestinians in exchange for peace.
Eban,
who spoke 10 languages, was born in South Africa and
raised in England. Prior to his death, he was honored
with the Israeli most coveted award in 2001. Eban was
unable to attend the award ceremony due to illness.
Eban
died a treasured hero of the state of Israel.
Ike Mgbatogu, MPA, is
the principal political writer and analyst for the Onumba.com
- an on-line voice of the nation located in Columbus,
Ohio, U.S.A. He can be reached at Ikeuzondu@onumba.com
or (614) 848-7747. Copyright
© 2002 Ike Mgbatogu / Onumba Communications. All
rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
