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Abba Eban

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Diplomat

The Resume

    (February 2, 1915-November 17, 2002)
    Born in Cape Town, South Africa
    Birth name was Aubrey Solomon
    Israeli ambassador to the United Nations (1949-59) and United States (1950-59)
    Israeli Minister of Education and Culture (1960-63), Deputy Prime Minister (1963-66) and Foreign Minister (1966-74)
    Wrote 'My People: The Story of the Jews' (1968), 'My Country: The Story of Israel' (1972), 'Abba Eban: An Autobiography' (1977), 'Heritage: Civilization and the Jews' (1984), 'Personal Witness: Israel Through My Eyes' (1992) and 'Diplomacy for a New Century' (1998)

Why he might be annoying:

    While serving as an officer with the British army in Palestine, he wrote anonymous newspaper articles criticizing British policies.
    He adopted the name Abba, Hebrew for father, because he saw himself as the father of Israel.
    He was more popular overseas than with his fellow Israelis.
    He was aloof.
    He alienated himself from fellow politicians with his caustic criticisms, such as calling Moshe Dayan 'the only Jew in history to violate all Ten Commandments' or Yitzhak Shamir 'the tunnel at the end of the light.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was married to Suzy Ambache for 57 years until his death.
    He arranged a critical meeting between Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and Harry S. Truman shortly before Truman announced that the US would recognize Israeli independence.
    He was fluent in ten languages.
    He was famed for his oratory, with Henry Kissinger saying, 'I have never encountered anyone who matched his command of the English language.'
    He said, 'History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 9 Votes: 88.89% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying