A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually

A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually

Abba Eban, a prominent Israeli diplomat and politician, once famously said, “A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually.” This statement encapsulates the complex nature of consensus-building in politics and diplomacy, particularly in the context of the Middle East conflict.

In the realm of international relations, achieving consensus among multiple parties with divergent interests and perspectives is often a challenging and delicate process. In the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, reaching a consensus on key issues such as borders, security, and the status of Jerusalem has proven to be elusive despite decades of negotiations and peace efforts.

Eban’s observation highlights the paradoxical nature of consensus-building in such contentious and deeply entrenched conflicts. While there may be a desire among the parties involved to reach a consensus and present a united front to the international community, the underlying beliefs and interests of each party may be so divergent that true consensus is difficult to achieve.