Mike Wallace - Abba Eban Interview April 12,1958

Overview

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Abba Eban, marks Israel’s 10th anniversary (April 1958) by addressing accusations and disputes shaping Israel’s relationship with Arab neighbors and with American Jews.

Outlook for the next decade

• Acknowledging the past: Eban says Israel’s first decade included repeated violence, border incidents, and two wars (1948 and 1956), but he also describes it as “joyous creation” involving sovereignty, democracy, and the revival of a people and a land.
• Hope and warning: He hopes the next decade will bring “peaceful consolidation,” while warning that Israel must remain vigilant as long as Arab states publicly maintain the goal of Israel’s destruction.
• Turning a “lull” into peace: He suggests that if tensions ease and Israel demonstrates stability, the current “lull” could become a period more conducive to peace—while noting that peace depends on resolving key issues.

Arab hostility: refugee issue framed as a result of Arab policy

• Rebutting atrocity comparisons: Eban rejects the claim that Arab refugees are evidence of Israeli atrocities comparable to Nazi crimes, responding to historian Arnold Toynbee’s comparison.
• Cause attributed to Arab actions: He argues the refugee problem resulted from:
  • the 1948 invasion,
  • later refusal to integrate refugees into Arab economies and labor markets,
  • and refusal to resolve the issue.
• Path to solution: He contends the problem can be solved regionally by opening Arab resources to refugees, with Israel contributing to a settlement if pursued through a regional approach.

Territorial question: legal right and moral argument

• Border definition claim: Eban responds to assertions that Israel holds territory beyond UN allocations by arguing that the UN/armistice framework and existing agreements already define Israel’s current borders.
• Legal claim: Israel has not “encroached” beyond territories defined by signed agreements; any changes require mutual consent.
• Moral claim: He argues it is “grotesque” to demand that “little Israel” shrink so that much larger Arab states can expand further.
• Clarifying intentions: He denies desiring further expansion, but argues Israel’s borders reflect a political-legal settlement following a war initiated by Arab states.

Domestic and political constraints within Israel

• Rejecting “expansion” as Israel’s consensus: Eban addresses the notion that Israeli politics are committed to expansion by citing positions of Israeli parties.
• Democratic process as a check: He argues that in Israel’s democratic system, expansion is not the dominant view, pointing to voters and party composition as evidence that territorial expansion has largely been rejected.

Economic confidence vs. claims of impending bankruptcy

• Egyptian critique (cited): An Egyptian official argues Israel lacks resources, exports, and industry, and must rely on external charity.
• Eban’s counter with data: Eban responds with statistics showing population growth and increases in national product and exports from 1951 to 1957.
• Acknowledging aid dependence: He concedes Israel still relies heavily on balance-of-payments support and foreign aid, but frames it as transitional—investments and imports (capital goods and development infrastructure) are building long-term capacity.
• Sources of resilience: He emphasizes agriculture, mineral resources, industrial development, and “science”/new energy sources as ways to reduce vulnerability.
• Risk of recession: He warns a global recession could damage Israel due to dependence on external aid.

The U.S. dilemma and recommended U.S. policy

• The dilemma: Eban argues the U.S. must support Israel without alienating Arab states that could otherwise turn to the Soviet Union.
• Prescription: He recommends a policy of “constructive friendship” toward both Israel and Arab countries, consistent with U.S. traditions of justice and support for independence.
• Not a zero-sum requirement: He stresses that U.S. friendship for Israel should not require Arab states’ frustration or exclusion, arguing reconciliation is possible within U.S. policy.

American Jews, Zionism, and “double nationality” accusations

• Response to anti-Zionist claims: Addressing Rabbi Elmer Berger’s charge that Zionism forces American Jews into a dangerous artificial “double nationality,” Eban argues:
  • Israel does not demand allegiance or loyalty from non-citizen Jews.
  • American Jews may voluntarily express kinship and emotional/historical ties, while citizenship allegiance remains separate.
• Zionism as Jewish resurgence: He frames Zionism as the “greatest collective event” in Jewish history and suggests that opposing Israel contradicts the constructive and creative movement of Jewish renewal—while still maintaining that individuals’ personal stance is ultimately their choice.
• Identity beyond religion: Eban argues Jewish identity cannot be reduced to religion; it also includes peoplehood, civilization, memory, and lived connection.
• Israel as unique fulfillment: He asserts Jewish destiny is uniquely realized through restoration of Israel, wishing well to Jews abroad but arguing for a “special historic and spiritual quality” to life as a free Jewish citizen in Israel.

Presenters or contributors

• Mike Wallace (interviewer)
• Abba Eban (ambassador, guest)
• Thomas Finletter (former U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, cited)
• Arnold Toynbee (historian, cited)
• Dr. F (Arab spokesman; name unclear due to subtitle errors; cited)
• Dr. Joseph Schekkman (cited as a Herut party spokesman; subtitle spelling uncertain)
• Hussein Fami (Egyptian official cited)
• David Ben-Gurion (Prime Minister, cited)
• Rabbi Elmer Berger (anti-Zionist rabbi, cited)
• The New York Times (source cited)