Abba Eban: A Biography - Hardcover

Siniver, Asaf

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1468309331 ISBN 13: 9781468309331

Publisher: OVERLOOK PR, 2015

Synopsis

The definitive biography of Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat often revered by every nation except the one he represented. The book draws from a wide range of primary sources to create a complex portrait of a man who left an indelible mark on the quest for peace in the Middle East.

A skilled debater, a master of language, and a passionate defender of Israel, Abba Eban’s diplomatic presence was in many ways a contradiction unlike any the world has seen since. While he was celebrated internationally for his exceptional wit and his moderate, reasoned worldview, these same qualities painted him as elitist and foreign in his home country. The disparity in perception of Eban at home and abroad was such that both his critics and his friends agreed that he would have been a wonderful prime minister―in any country but Israel. In Abba Eban, Asaf Siniver paints a nuanced and complete portrait of one of the most complex figures in twentieth-century foreign affairs. We see Eban growing up and coming into his own as part of the Cambridge Union, and watch him steadily become known as “The Voice of Israel.” Siniver draws on a vast amount of interviews, writings, and other newly available material to show that, in his unceasing quest for stability and peace for Israel, Eban’s primary opposition often came from the homeland he was fighting for; no matter how many allies he gained abroad, the man never understood his own domestic politics well enough to be as effective in his pursuits as he hoped. The first examination of Eban in nearly forty years, Abba Eban is a fascinating look at a life that still offers a valuable perspective on Israel even today.

About this title

Review

In this engrossing, impressively researched biography, Siniver traces the career of a statesman acclaimed more outside of his country than within. Based on interviews with dozens of people and research in more than 20 archival collections, Siniver's sympathetic, cleareyed biography deserves to be called definitive.

This rigorous and long-overdue examination of Abba Eban as the voice of Israel during the critical first decades of the Jewish state proves the adage that there are no second acts in politics. Asaf Siniver, in a highly readable and thoroughly researched biography, grasps the essential contradictions in Israeli society by showing how Eban failed to bridge the humanistic principles of Jewish life... Siniver's realistic but also sympathetic portrait radiates the wit, brilliance, and vanities of Eban.--Patrick Tyler, author of Fortress Israel and former Chief Correspondent of The New York Times

Siniver offers a fascinating observation of a unique statesman that stood next to cradle of the state of Israel. Eban's biography is one of the best stories of one of the 20th century's greatest miracles and enigmas.--Akiva Eldar, CEO, Israel Conference on Peace"

An elegant and thoughtful biography of the political contradictions that drove Abba Eban... An invaluable primer for those seeking to understand politics within Israel.--Janice Gross Stein, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto

This penetrating look at one of Israel's most paradoxical figures should be read by anyone interested in the state's emergence and early history. As Siniver persuasively demonstrates, Eban's career and Israel's diplomatic history are so intertwined that this incisive biography of Eban is inevitably also a compelling portrait of that history. The analysis also convincingly shows how very qualities that underlay Eban's international luminescence were those that undermined his domestic image and standing. This is beyond question the definitive work on Eban, and is likely to remain so for a very long time.--Dr. Alan Dowty, Professor Emeritus, University of Notre Dame"

Abba Eban, once heralded as the Voice of Israel and widely praised as one of greatest diplomats of the twentieth century, has quickly become a forgotten figure. Asaf Siniver provides a fascinating portrayal of Eban s life and reminds us of his unique contribution to Israeli diplomacy. Essential reading for anyone interested in Israeli foreign policy, especially during Israel s formative years--Joel Peters, School of Public International Affairs, Virginia Tech"

Siniver s principal achievement is his artful documentation of the tension between Eban the intellectual and Eban the politician. Such lofty thoughts do not distract Mr. Siniver from listing the indiscretions and dishonesty to which Eban, in his politician s guise, occasionally succumbed--Ben Cohen"The Abba Eban Paradox" (12/30/2015)"

In reading Siniver s insightful biography, I contemplated what might have happened had the Israeli public and politicians listened to Abba Eban. Would Israel and her relationship with her neighbors been any different? One can only wonder."

Siniver s levelheaded account looks at the history of Israel through the life of the country s eloquent defender."

Informative, often insightful

About the Author

Asaf Siniver, PhD, is Associate Professor in International Security in the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Birmingham. In his research, he focuses on the international relations of the Arab-Israeli conflict, contemporary US foreign policy, and third-party conflict resolution on the international stage.

Edition details

• Publisher: OVERLOOK PR
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1468309331
• ISBN 13: 9781468309331
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 464