Eban Abba


Abba Eban, Israel's Representative at the U.N., Blames the Arab States for Preventing Peaceful Supervision of the Holy Places in Jerusalem



Historically important Autograph Manuscript of a speech by Abba Eban, three pages, 6" x 8", separate sheets of hotel stationery of The Savoy-Plaza, New York City. The Savoy-Plaza was demolished in 1964. Eban was Israel's first Representative to the United Nations. With cross-outs and additions, but not signed by Eban.



In full: "The record of the Arab Government in the Jerusalem question is as follows: -They violently opposed the Statute of Jerusalem when it was first proposed by the U.N. and made brutal destructive war upon the City in cynical disregard of its sacred associations." Eban then writes "This assault caused the abandonment and irrevocable," then crosses the phrase out, replacing it with "and with heavy loss of life and damage to buildings old and new, religious and secular." He continues, "When Jerusalem obtained its political freedom through integration with Israel, proposals arose in the United Nations and in world opinion generally for establishing United Nations representation in Jerusalem for the supervision of the Holy Places. The Arab States have opposed these suggestions and are largely responsible for their not having been put into effect. At the same time, Jordan, the only Arab government with actual interests and positions in Jerusalem opposes the internationalization proposals for which other Arab governments profess tactical support. This the Arab policy has been and is - to thwart whatever proposals can effectively or justly at any time give peaceful expression to international concern for the Holy Places. In these circumstances their exploitation of the Jerusalem question for a hollow political maneuver is a shocking profanity, offensive to the City's peace and holiness. The Arab Ambassadors have publicly referred to the responsibilities of the United States in this question. In this connection the Israel Embassy merely recalls the following facts from Israel's own experience. First. The United States and Israel were unable to maintain the original internationalization plans against Arab assault and the United States in May 1948 took the lead in advocating the non-implementation of the plan. Second. The United States representative in the U.N. in November 1948 proposed that Jerusalem be integrated with the rest of Palestine. In 1949 and 1950 the United States opposed the plan for territorial internationalization in the General Assembly and Trusteeship Council. Third. The United States encouraged and supported Israel's initiative in June 1950 in proposing an international representative for the Holy Places in and outside Jerusalem."


In October, 1948, President Truman stated that "We continue to support, within the framework of the United Nations, the internationalization of Jerusalem and the protection of the holy places in Palestine." In 1952, the United States took the position that "The Government of the United States has adhered and continues to adhere to the policy that there should be a special international regime for Jerusalem which will not only provide protection for the holy places but which will be acceptable to Israel and Jordan as well as the world community." Abba Eban was Israel's first voice to the world. A brilliant and eloquent speaker and a superb orator, Eban was born in South Africa and educated at Cambridge. He became Israel's first Representative at the United Nations in 1948, and served concurrently as Ambassador to the United States from 1950 until his election to the Knesset in 1959. Abba Eban was Israel's Foreign Minister from 1966-1974. In excellent condition.




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