Denmark–Israel relations

Denmark-Israel relations

Denmark
Israel

Denmark–Israel relations refers to the bilateral relationship between Denmark and Israel. Relations between the two states are close.

History

Some identify the beginning of the relations in the invitation of King Christian IV to merchants from the Portuguese Jews to settle in Copenhagen, and later King Frederick III who extended the invitation to promote commerce. Later on, From 9 April 1940, to August 1943, the Danish Jewish community was safe from persecution. During World War I, in 1918, the World Zionist Organization set up a central office in Copenhagen in order to present the claims of the Jewish people at the Paris peace conference|.

From 9 April 1940, to August 1943, the Danish Jewish community was safe from persecution. Under an |heroism operation, the Danish underground, founded by King Christian V, smuggled 7,000 Jews to Sweden. This act brought to the endowment of the honorific Righteous Among Nations to the Danish resistance movement, and it is found at the base of the bilateral relations of the countries. Every 5 years, the rescue operation is commemorated and celebrated in both countries. In addition, in Jerusalem, there is a monument to the rescue of Danish Jews and a school is also named in Denmark's honor. King Christian X hospital in Eitanim is named after Denmark's king during World War II, where there are monuments in Copenhagen, such as the Stone at Israels Plads and the monument at Hellerup, besides the wharfs from where the Jews were sent in Gilleleje and Køge.

Denmark voted for the partition of Palestine in 1947 and supports Israel in the United Nations. Denmark has an embassy in Israel, and Israel has an embassy in Copenhagen since 1949.[1][2] Denmark recognized and established diplomatic relations with Israel on 2 February 1949.[3]

On the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the former prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told a crowd of people that the actions are a stain on Denmark’s otherwise good reputation. The Danes rescue of all Danish Jews during World War II, the Yad Vashem declared Denmark Righteous Among the Nations.[4] In May 2005, Denmark apologized for sending Jews to Nazi concentration camps.

During the Gaza War, there were protests in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Odense. In Copenhagen, the police estimated between 500 to 600 people demonstrated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen.[5] 400 people protested in Aarhus, and 500 in Odense.[6]

The political lives of the two states have been somewhat intertwined: The former Israeli minister of social and diaspora affairs Michael Melchior was born in Denmark and is the son of former chief rabbi in Copenhagen, Bent Melchior, the nephew of former Danish minister of traffic and minister of tourism and communication Arne Melchior, and the grandson of the acting rabbi for the Jewish refugees from Denmark in Sweden 1943-45, Marcus Melchior; the executive director of the Peres Center for Peace 2001-2011, Ron Pundak, who played an important role in starting the Oslo peace process and was part of the core group behind the Geneva Initiative, is the son of the influential Danish journalist Herbert Pundik; and prominent Israeli politician Yohanan Plesner, former chairman of the Plesner Committee, is the son of Danish architect Ulrik Plesner.

Israeli ambassadors to Denmark

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Danish embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel". Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "Israeli embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark". Foreign Affairs of Israel. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  3. ↑ Palestine affairs (4). American Zionist Emergency Council. 1949.
  4. ↑ Danish Relations with Israel
  5. ↑ (in Danish) Flag brændt af ved dansk Gaza-demo - Politiken.dk.Politiken.dk. Retrieved on 2011-01-18
  6. ↑ "Demonstrationer mod Israel i Århus og København". Jyllandsposten. December 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010-01-81. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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