>-Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has travelled to Israel.
>-The Foreign Minister landed in Tel Aviv in the afternoon, according to the Keystone-SDA news agency.
>-During his approximately 20-hour stay, Cassis plans to visit not only Israel but also the West Bank.
>-The Federal Councillor has been facing criticism for some time: from Parliament, from several NGOs and from diplomatic circles regarding Switzerland’s “silence” in the Gaza war.
>In the evening, Cassis will meet in Jerusalem with representatives of international organisations operating in the Gaza Strip and supported by Switzerland. On Wednesday morning, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and subsequently Israeli chief diplomat Gideon Sa’ar.
>Cassis intends to spend just over 20 hours in the region. One of his aims is to form his own view of the humanitarian aid situation in the region and to advocate for respect for international law and for a resolution to the conflict.
>Last week, Cassis faced criticism – particularly when he tried to explain why Switzerland had not joined a letter from 20 European countries calling for aid in the Gaza Strip to be coordinated by the UN and humanitarian organisations.
>The Ticino native believed that the letter rejected from the outset the Israeli plan to control the distribution of aid via the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). During the first distributions of aid by the GHF, several dozen people were killed. GHF is based in the USA and had registered a non-functional branch in Geneva.
>__Criticism from Parliament and Diplomatic Circles__
>While the shelling was attributed to the Israeli army, the Federal Council stated that one would “never know” who was really responsible.
>Another point of criticism from members of Parliament and non-governmental organisations was that the head of the FDFA remained consistent in condemning both Israel and Hamas equally. Many demanded a stronger condemnation of Israel due to the airstrikes and the blockade of humanitarian aid.
>Criticism of the Federal Council also came from diplomatic circles. Dozens of former Swiss ambassadors and hundreds of FDFA staff accuse Cassis of failing to strike a sufficiently strong tone against Israel’s stance. According to several UN agencies, the entire population of the Gaza Strip is starving.
>__No Talks with Netanyahu__
>The issue of humanitarian aid is not the only item on Cassis’s agenda. On Wednesday morning, the Federal Councillor will meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and then with Israeli chief diplomat Gideon Sa’ar. A meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court, is not planned.
>Switzerland must define its position ahead of the UN conference on the two-state solution, which will take place from 17 to 20 June in New York.
>Several countries may use the occasion to recognise a Palestinian state. However, the final document may instead call for efforts towards achieving that step. Israel’s allies oppose this scenario, arguing that such a political decision would amount to legitimising Hamas.
Good on him for trying to get a better understanding of the situation on the spot.
However I hope he doesn’t get Switzerland involved in this pointless war that has nothing to do with us.
3 comments
Translation:
>-Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis has travelled to Israel.
>-The Foreign Minister landed in Tel Aviv in the afternoon, according to the Keystone-SDA news agency.
>-During his approximately 20-hour stay, Cassis plans to visit not only Israel but also the West Bank.
>-The Federal Councillor has been facing criticism for some time: from Parliament, from several NGOs and from diplomatic circles regarding Switzerland’s “silence” in the Gaza war.
>In the evening, Cassis will meet in Jerusalem with representatives of international organisations operating in the Gaza Strip and supported by Switzerland. On Wednesday morning, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) will meet Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and subsequently Israeli chief diplomat Gideon Sa’ar.
>Cassis intends to spend just over 20 hours in the region. One of his aims is to form his own view of the humanitarian aid situation in the region and to advocate for respect for international law and for a resolution to the conflict.
>Last week, Cassis faced criticism – particularly when he tried to explain why Switzerland had not joined a letter from 20 European countries calling for aid in the Gaza Strip to be coordinated by the UN and humanitarian organisations.
>The Ticino native believed that the letter rejected from the outset the Israeli plan to control the distribution of aid via the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). During the first distributions of aid by the GHF, several dozen people were killed. GHF is based in the USA and had registered a non-functional branch in Geneva.
>__Criticism from Parliament and Diplomatic Circles__
>While the shelling was attributed to the Israeli army, the Federal Council stated that one would “never know” who was really responsible.
>Another point of criticism from members of Parliament and non-governmental organisations was that the head of the FDFA remained consistent in condemning both Israel and Hamas equally. Many demanded a stronger condemnation of Israel due to the airstrikes and the blockade of humanitarian aid.
>Criticism of the Federal Council also came from diplomatic circles. Dozens of former Swiss ambassadors and hundreds of FDFA staff accuse Cassis of failing to strike a sufficiently strong tone against Israel’s stance. According to several UN agencies, the entire population of the Gaza Strip is starving.
>__No Talks with Netanyahu__
>The issue of humanitarian aid is not the only item on Cassis’s agenda. On Wednesday morning, the Federal Councillor will meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and then with Israeli chief diplomat Gideon Sa’ar. A meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against whom an arrest warrant has been issued by the International Criminal Court, is not planned.
>Switzerland must define its position ahead of the UN conference on the two-state solution, which will take place from 17 to 20 June in New York.
>Several countries may use the occasion to recognise a Palestinian state. However, the final document may instead call for efforts towards achieving that step. Israel’s allies oppose this scenario, arguing that such a political decision would amount to legitimising Hamas.
Good on him for trying to get a better understanding of the situation on the spot.
However I hope he doesn’t get Switzerland involved in this pointless war that has nothing to do with us.
Ah yes, Ignazio “Both sides” Cassis.
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