--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody does Israel any service by…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/abba-eban-20139_acknowledgement_nobody-does-israel-any-service-by-procla_2415219.jpg" --- # Nobody does Israel any service by proclaiming its 'right… ![“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…” quote by Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/abba-eban-20139_acknowledgement_nobody-does-israel-any-service-by-procla_2415219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/abba-eban-20139_acknowledgement_nobody-does-israel-any-service-by-procla_2415219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/108/abba-eban-20139_acknowledgement_nobody-does-israel-any-service-by-procla_2415219.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement argues that a state's right to exist is inherent and not dependent on external recognition, asserting that such acknowledgment is a basic, non‑negotiable fact. **In simple terms:** A state's existence is a given, not a favor. Key Takeaway Recognize inherent rights of nations. Themes politics sovereignty recognition Mood analytical assertive Type political philosophical When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy making - human rights advocacy - education Key Concepts international law realism Questions to Reflect On - Should recognition be unconditional? - What other factors affect a state's legitimacy? A Different Perspective Recognition alone may not resolve deeper conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acknowledgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgement/) [Arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arabia/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Concessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concessions/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Exist Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist-israel-3336739/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Israel Legitimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel-legitimacy-6094416/) [Israel Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel-right-396451/) [Legitimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimacy/) [Mere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere/) [Proclaiming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proclaiming/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Saudi arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi-arabia/) [Saudis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudis/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Suspended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspended/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Unreserved Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreserved-israel-6094417/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [It's clear to me that one can't be Jewish without Israel. Religious or non-religious, Zionist or non-Zionist, Ashkenazi or Sephardic - all these will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/it-s-clear-to-me-that-one-can-t-be-jewish-without-israel-religious-or/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Humanity seized to exist when Israel was established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/humanity-seized-to-exist-when-israel-was-established/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [As a state representative, I have consistently supported our state's investment in Israel and our vocal support of Israel's right to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-abrams/as-a-state-representative-i-have-consistently-supported-our-state-s/) [Stacey Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-abrams/) > [I am a British-Palestinian who believes in Israel's right to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-am-a-british-palestinian-who-believes-in-israel-s-right-to-exist/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [American foreign policy has been - and must continue to be - based on unequivocal support for Israel's right to exist and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-berman/american-foreign-policy-has-been-and-must-continue-to-be-based-on/) [Howard Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-berman/) > [If America has the right to target Osama bin Laden, or terrorists, of course Israel has the right to defend itself from terrorism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-america-has-the-right-to-target-osama-bin-laden-or-terrorists-of/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [I believe that if Israel were to put an end to the settlements in the West Bank tomorrow, as it did in Gaza, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-believe-that-if-israel-were-to-put-an-end-to-the-settlements-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Israel has the right to defend itself, especially against the huge numbers of Iranian long-range missiles pouring into the Gaza Strip from Iran via…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronen-bergman/israel-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-especially-against-the-huge/) [Ronen Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronen-bergman/) > [I defend Israel's right to exist, to defend themselves, to not let themselves be exterminated a second time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-defend-israel-s-right-to-exist-to-defend-themselves-to-not-let/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas have recognized Israel's right to exist. The Israeli government has never recognized our right to a sovereign state and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-mashal/yasser-arafat-and-mahmoud-abbas-have-recognized-israel-s-right-to/) [Khaled Mashal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-mashal/) > [The word 'Zionist' has become toxic. To some it means believing in Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. To others it represents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/the-word-zionist-has-become-toxic-to-some-it-means-believing-in/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) > [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I am a Zionist, an ardent supporter of Israel, its defender when I deem Israel to be right and its critic when I deem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-bikel/i-am-a-zionist-an-ardent-supporter-of-israel-its-defender-when-i-deem/) [Theodore Bikel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-bikel/) > [Like every other sovereign nation, Israel has the right to determine its own capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-mast/like-every-other-sovereign-nation-israel-has-the-right-to-determine/) [Brian Mast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-mast/) > [I'm for Israel's right to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/i-m-for-israel-s-right-to-exist/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) ## More by Abba Eban > [His ignorance is encyclopedic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/his-ignorance-is-encyclopedic/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [A nation writes its history in the image of its ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/a-nation-writes-its-history-in-the-image-of-its-ideal/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/palestinians-never-miss-an-opportunity-to-miss-an-opportunity/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [“History teaches us that men and nations only behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." --”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/history-teaches-us-that-men-and-nations-only-behave-wisely-once-they/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Time and again these governments have rejected proposals today - and longed for them tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/time-and-again-these-governments-have-rejected-proposals-today-and/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Playing the game I have learned the meaning of humility. It has given me an understanding of futility of the human effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/playing-the-game-i-have-learned-the-meaning-of-humility-it-has-given/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [“If Algeria introduced a resolution that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/if-algeria-introduced-a-resolution-that-the-earth-was-flat-and-that/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Science is not a sacred cow. Science is a horse. Don’t worship it. Feed it. \[Addressing a group of prospective contributors to an Israeli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/science-is-not-a-sacred-cow-science-is-a-horse-don-t-worship-it-feed/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Tragedy is the difference between what is and what could have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/tragedy-is-the-difference-between-what-is-and-what-could-have-been/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Human beings act intelligently only after they have exhausted the alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/human-beings-act-intelligently-only-after-they-have-exhausted-the/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/consensus-is-what-many-people-say-in-chorus-but-do-not-believe-as/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [You can't achieve anything without getting in someone's way. You can't be detached and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/you-can-t-achieve-anything-without-getting-in-someone-s-way-you-can-t/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Lest Arab governments be tempted out of sheer routine to rush into impulsive rejection, let me suggest that tragedy is not what men suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/lest-arab-governments-be-tempted-out-of-sheer-routine-to-rush-into/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Tragedy is not what men suffer but what they miss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/tragedy-is-not-what-men-suffer-but-what-they-miss/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/a-consensus-means-that-everyone-agrees-to-say-collectively-what-no/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) [Explore all 31 Abba Eban quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) ## More Acknowledgement quotes > [The less obvious hurdle is that of preparing parents emotionally and putting forward realistic images of parenthood and motherhood. There also needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/the-less-obvious-hurdle-is-that-of-preparing-parents-emotionally-and/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [The First Amendment exists to protect our religious liberty--to ensure that all Americans are able to seek out worship God with all our hearts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/the-first-amendment-exists-to-protect-our-religious-liberty-to-ensure/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [The dogmatic and, therefore, invulnerable core in Islam is understandably simple: acknowledgement of faith, prayer, charity and fasting. Almost everything else is open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/the-dogmatic-and-therefore-invulnerable-core-in-islam-is/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I'm like a superhero only without powers and the acknowledgement that follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjames/i-m-like-a-superhero-only-without-powers-and-the-acknowledgement-that/) [Bjames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjames/) > [I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-an-american-free-born-and-free-bred-where-i-acknowledge-no-man/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Money isn't what motivates entrepreneurs; it is acknowledgement-a craving for your ideas to be acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuben-singh/money-isn-t-what-motivates-entrepreneurs-it-is-acknowledgement-a/) [Reuben Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuben-singh/) > [Research has shown over and over again that the more you acknowledge your past successes, the more confident you become in taking on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/research-has-shown-over-and-over-again-that-the-more-you-acknowledge/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Nyla, he breathed, hoping not to wake her but also hoping that she would open her eyes. She didn't. She simply smiled and whispered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-castile/nyla-he-breathed-hoping-not-to-wake-her-but-also-hoping-that-she/) [Mia Castile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-castile/) > [What we call 'evil' doesn't necessarily deserve any kind of respect or understanding, by any means; it just deserves an acknowledgement of its complexity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/what-we-call-evil-doesn-t-necessarily-deserve-any-kind-of-respect-or/) [Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/) > [Reconciliation is not to be withheld when repentance—that is, deep, heart‐changing acknowledgement of sin and a radical redirection of life—takes place in the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/reconciliation-is-not-to-be-withheld-when-repentance-that-is-deep/) [Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/) > [“Your name?" George asked him directly. He had probably seen the man a dozen times before yet did not know anything about him. King…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mette-ivie-harrison/your-name-george-asked-him-directly-he-had-probably-seen-the-man-a/) [Mette Ivie Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mette-ivie-harrison/) > [Lying is the strongest acknowledgement of the force of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/lying-is-the-strongest-acknowledgement-of-the-force-of-truth/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Success is a relative quotient, and fame can be ephemeral. An Oscar is something that becomes a part of your record, a tangible acknowledgement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faye-dunaway/success-is-a-relative-quotient-and-fame-can-be-ephemeral-an-oscar-is/) [Faye Dunaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faye-dunaway/) [Browse all 142 Acknowledgement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acknowledgement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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