Bernadotte in Palestine, 1948: A Study in Contemporary Humanitarian Knight-Errantry (review)

150 SHOFAR tant diplomatic studies of William Roger Louis. Sicker's history is not as rich as the other books, but there is much to admire in it. It is well organized and clearly written. The major historical sequences are well presented. Sketching the family's rise to power during the Ottoman Empire, Sicker describes the negotiations between Hashemites and British diplomats during the First World War. These negotiations have served as the subject of much historical inquiry, speculation, and with respect to their meaning, controversy. Sicker's analysis conveys none of this uncertainty, although his interpretations concerning diplomatic intentions are certainly plausible. Sicker's account of Zionist diplomacy is as abbreviated as his summary of Hashemite negotiations. While it will not satisfy scholars, it does provide a reasonable introduction for those not familiar with the period. Conviction is unlikely to follow from analysis which fails to address the issue of constraints on small states with few natural resources squeezed between more powerful countries led by ambitious men. In reminding us of the political ambitions of the Hashemite family, Sicker fails to accord sufficient attention to the limitations placed in the drive to power of its several leaders. Neither Trans-Jordan's monarch, Abdullah, nor King Husayn of Jordan could pursue a sustained, far-sighted foreign policy on Palestine or any other issue. The switch in tactics and regional allies arose not from a set of fixed dynastic interests but rather as a result of political weakness and limited options . In the end, the difference between the politically successful and unsuccessful Hashemite leaders is measured by the number of years they sat on a throne. Donna R. Divine Smith College Bemadotte in Palestine, 1948: A Study in Contemporary Humanitarian Knight-Errantry, by Amitzur llano New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990. 306 pp. $45.00. Mr. Han has written a highly informative book about a chapter in the Arab-Israeli conflict which many of us may remember, though the passage of time may cloud our memories. The United Nations in May 1948 sent Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden to Palestine to mediate the Arab-Israeli conflict. "Four months later he was murdered in the streets of Jerusalem by Jewish terrorists" (p. 1). Despite its title, the book is more than a recounting of the events of Bernadotte's mediation. Rather it is a biography that explains how a rather simple person came to be entrusted with the task of solving the Arab-Israeli Volume 9, No.4 Summer 1991 151 conflict. The author, for example, deals in considerable length wit,h the Swede's World War II career and the charges of antisemitism that dogged him. Prof. Ilan examines the evidence that alleges Count Bernadotte refused to rescue Jews held by the Nazis, and rejects these allegations. "No record of his life points to any antisemitic sentiment or behavior" (p. 46). Nonetheless, Bernadotte was burdened with the claim that he was antisemitic, and this may have hindered his ability to influence Israelis who were suspicious of Bernadotte's motives. It certainly was a factor in the Stern Gang's decison to have him assassinated. In elaborating on Count Bernadotte's four-month term, the author feels that the Palestine mediator's finest hour was the achievement of the fourweek truce that commenced on 11 June 1948. Bernadotte's stock in the world rose sharply, especially in the United Nations and among his colleagues. Ralph Bunche, who was originally skeptical of the count's abilities, was a notable covert to the notion that Bernadotte might be able to achieve what previously had been thought of as impossible: a negotiated and equitable solution to an intractable problem. What went wrong? According to the author, though Folke Bernadotte worked to bring about a partition solution, in actuality he helped bring about a new military equilibrium which suited Israel better than the Arabs. When that point was reached, a small group of Israelies decided that Bernadotte was an impediment that needed to be eliminated since he would not likely support their gains. Israel's gains were accomplished during the four-week cease-fire that lasted till 9 July and was to be accompanied by...