Turbulent Diplomatic Relations in the Middle East: Israel, Denmark, and UNTSO Chief Vagn Bennike

Against the background of international conflict, UN efforts to preserve peace have often inadvertently created complications between member states. When the UN was deploying peacekeeping forces to the Middle East in response to the Israeli-Arab conflict in 1948, conflicting priorities arose for Israel, the Arab nations, and also for Denmark. The following case study presents the early Danish involvement in peacekeeping within United Nations activities in the Middle East and its challenges. On the one hand, Denmark wanted to promote a high profile in the UN observation mission and to be seen as a strategic partner for peace on the world stage. On the other hand, Denmark did not want to damage relations with Israel which enjoyed a high degree of political capital in Danish circles. The Danish Foreign Office put forward Major General Vagn Bennike to be Chief of the UNTSO peacekeeping forces in 1953. His role was to supervise the ceasefire Agreements between Israel and its neighbors. Instead of guiding the parties to a more peaceful and stable process, the weakness of Bennike's diplomacy resulted in the parties adopting an even greater violent and aggressive policy. This article examines how this one individual influenced the UN peacekeeping forces and put in motion a chain of events that tested Danish–Israeli relations.