Right to Reply: Denmark's merit in rescuing its Jews cannot be denied

Human rights and fundamental freedoms are a cornerstone in Denmark and in Danish foreign policy and development cooperation.

By LISELOTTE PLESNER
Historians have done a great job in revealing ever more information on WW II and the Holocaust, giving us a more nuanced picture. But regardless of how many nuances are brought forward, no one can take away the fact that almost all Danish Jews - over 7,000 human beings - were rescued in October 1943. Human rights and fundamental freedoms are a cornerstone in Denmark and in Danish foreign policy and development cooperation. Defending freedom of speech has over the last couple of years led to forceful reactions. As a staunch supporter of freedom of speech, Denmark must also respect that everybody else is entitled to criticize Denmark and Danish positions. The book Behind the Humanitarian Mask about Denmark (and the other Nordic countries), Israel and the Jews is an example of the authors making use of their freedom of expression. The same goes for the review entitled "Nordic Exposure" (The Jerusalem Post, November 6) by Isi Leibler. While reading the article one must remember that Denmark is a long-time friend of Israel. And that looking at World War II and the Holocaust, very little is black and white. That also goes for Denmark. But the fact remains that almost all the Danish Jews were rescued in October 1943. In a few days over 7,000 were brought to safety in Sweden by the Danish people. And Denmark provided for the Danish Jews in Sweden until they could return after the war - most of them to find their property intact. As for the article's claim that "ultimately, most of the media, together with the government, cravenly capitulated in the face of local and international Muslim threats of violence," this is plainly absurd. Denmark is internationally widely acknowledged for its steadfastness in standing guard over freedom of expression. This acknowledgment stems not least from the cartoon crisis, during which Denmark - despite threats, consumer's boycott and arsons on three of our representations in the Muslim world - never sold out the inviolability of the principle of freedom of expression. The writer is the Danish ambassador to Israel.