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Demonstrators gathered in front of the UN building in Geneva, protesting Israeli atrocities |
By
Tamer Abul Einein, IOL Switzerland correspondent
BERN,
April 4 (IslamOnline) - The Swiss government has decided to
reconsider its relations with Israel Wednesday, April 3, in the light
of the increasing Israeli aggression in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,
and the failure of international efforts to lift the Israeli siege on
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.
The
Swiss federal government in conjunction with the Foreign Ministry, the
Ministry of Defense, and the Trade Cooperation Administration, studied
its economic relationship with the Jewish nation, Wednesday, April 3,
as well as the military cooperation between the two countries.
The
spokeswoman for the Swiss foreign ministry, Daniella Schtofeil-Fasser,
said in an interview with Swiss Radio that it was doubtful that the
government would undertake economic sanctions on Israel at present.
Sources
in the Swiss foreign ministry said that it was crucial to reassess its
relationship with Israel in line with the changes that have occurred
with regards to the peace process. The declaration of war made by
hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon necessitated this change
of view in keeping with traditional Swiss relationships with warring
countries.
Issues
such as human rights violations, and the immunity provided to those
who carry out these abuses worry Switzerland.
Swiss
imports of Israeli arms took up to 10% of the national budget in the
past, the defense ministry’s spokesman, Osfeld Seig, told the daily
liberal newspaper, Taks Intsigher. However, due to reasons other than
the current situation, Switzerland has not purchased any arms from
Israel this year.
Switzerland
benefits from trade relations between it and Israel, as the average of
Swiss exports to Israel amount to 3.3 billion Swiss francs annually,
while the average of Israeli exports to Switzerland amount to 500,000
million Swiss francs annually.
On
another front, the Swiss government donated an additional million
francs in aid for Palestinian refugees to the UNRWA.
At
the same time, the International Trade Cooperation Administration
pledged to arrange an additional aid program to the International Red
Cross Organization, as well as supporting non-government organizations
working in Palestine.
The
Swiss move comes one day after the calling of the Israeli ambassador,
Yigal Antibi, to the Swiss foreign ministry to receive a harshly
worded statement that asserts Swiss condemnation of the Israeli
military aggressions in the West Bank.
Switzerland
had also supported last Saturday, March 30, the U.N. resolution
demanding Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities.
Ties
between Israel and Switzerland had witnessed some tension in the past
years, due to Israel’s claims that Switzerland aided the Nazis
during World War II.
Tensions
also rose due to a Swiss spy scandal in which two Swiss men with
Lebanese backgrounds were accused by Israeli intelligence, Mossad, as
being spies for Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah.
After
ties between the two countries returned to normal, Switzerland has
been tensing up once more, after several Swiss-funded humanitarian aid
organizations were destroyed by the Israeli occupation army in the
West Bank, as well as the death of a Swiss member of the observer
force Temporary International Presence in Khalil (Hebron).
Meanwhile,
Geneva witnessed demonstrations Wednesday, April 3, in which hundreds
of people gathered in front of the European headquarters of the United
Nations. The demonstrators protested against atrocities carried out by
the Israeli occupation army.
The
Swiss capital, Bern, is also expecting to witness demonstrations on
Saturday, April 6, in which at least 20 non-government organizations
will participate, along with the Swiss Green and Socialist Parties.
