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Following the major attack on Israel by the radical Islamic group Hamas, the EU is suspending its development aid to the Palestinians and reviewing aid funds amounting to EUR 700 million. «All payments are suspended immediately. All projects are being assessed,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on Monday. All new publications, including for the current year, would be postponed “until further notice”.
And how does Switzerland respond? She’s waiting for now.
Switzerland has also been involved in local development assistance. Switzerland not only supports the controversial United Nations aid agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East with 20 million annually, but also 30 NGOs.
32 million planned
The Directorate for Development and Cooperation identifies several projects that Switzerland wants to support in the Palestinian territories in the coming years. These amount to more than 32 million francs. These include an economic project that supports the improvement of conditions for the export/import of goods to and from the Gaza Strip. Cost: 870,000 francs for the years 2020 to 2024.
For example, a project aimed at promoting the mental health of people in the Gaza Strip will run until the end of the year. The project, which has been running since 2019, is budgeted at 1.8 million francs.
“This is not the time for quick fixes”
Politicians say it must now become clear how Switzerland should continue to provide financial support for these projects due to the violence. Mitte boss Gerhard Pfister (61) told Blick: “The federal government must now carefully examine the flow of money to Palestine. It must be ensured that Swiss taxpayers’ money is not used to finance terrorism.”
Responding to the objection that it would likely be very difficult to ensure that no tax dollars end up in Hamas’ hands, Pfister said: “It is up to the organizations that receive money to prove that they have no ties to terrorism.”
“We need to discuss how the flow of money to the Palestinian territories can be better controlled,” says Green Liberal Tiana Angelina Moser (44). However, Switzerland must be careful, she warns: “We will not get any closer to the peace process if basic services for the civilian population are even less guaranteed.”
Hamas is “undoubtedly a terrorist organization.” But especially given the dramatic situation for the population, “this is not the time for quick solutions or symbolic politics.” Parliament and the Federal Council must carefully examine which measures are useful and correct, Moser said.
SP foreign politician Fabian Molina (33) makes a similar statement: according to him, Switzerland must continue its work for reconciliation and humanitarian aid. Without support from the international community for the Palestinian civilian population, the risk of further radicalization increases, he says.
Cassis asks herself questions
The SVP takes a completely different position: “After the barbaric terror against the Israeli population,” it calls for an immediate end to Swiss financial aid to Palestinian organizations. Hamas must be classified as a terrorist organization and banned, the party demanded on X (formerly Twitter).
All Hamas supporters and sympathizers in Switzerland must be monitored by the federal intelligence service, the SVP wrote on Monday.
The extra-parliamentary committee will continue the discussion next week. The topic will also be discussed with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis (62) at their next meeting.
However, Cassis told the media on Monday that there is good and clear evidence that the funds have been used correctly to date. The Federal Council is temporarily holding on to payments to the United Nations Palestinian Relief Organization. There is currently no alternative to the aid organization’s work, Cassis said.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
