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Nobody does Israel any service by proclaiming its 'right to exist.' Israel's right to exist, like that of the United States, Saudi Arabia and 152 other states, is axiomatic and unreserved. Israel's legitimacy is not suspended in midair awaiting acknowledgement.... There is certainly no other state, big or small, young or old, that would consider mere recognition of its 'right to exist' a favor, or a negotiable concession.
Abba Eban
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Abba Eban emphasizes that Israel's right to exist is self-evident and should not require validation from others.

In this quote, Abba Eban argues that the legitimacy of Israel as a sovereign state is intrinsic and should not depend on external acknowledgment or recognition. He compares Israel's situation to that of other nations, asserting that expecting recognition of a nation's right to exist is both unnecessary and condescending. Eban highlights the absurdity of treating the acknowledgment of a nation's existence as a negotiable concession, stressing that every state possesses inherent legitimacy simply by existing.

Themes

IsraelRecognitionLegitimacySovereigntyExistence

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about international relations, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of recognizing a state's inherent rights.

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