For a quick ceasefire: Switzerland sides with Israeli critics

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Israel calls it a “disgrace”, Hamas is happy. On Friday evening, the UN General Assembly in New York approved a resolution calling for an immediate “humanitarian ceasefire”. After Hamas attacks, Israel is no longer allowed to carry out military operations. Neutral Switzerland naturally sided with Israel’s critics.

Jordan submitted the application together with several Arab countries, as well as states such as North Korea, Russia and Venezuela, reports the “Sonntagszeitung”. Controversially, the resolution contains no reference to the fact that the latest escalation was caused by Hamas terror. Israel also views the ceasefire demand as an attempt to deny its right to self-defense.

Many Western countries disagreed

In contrast to Switzerland, many Western partner states refused to agree to the resolution. The US, Israel’s closest ally, voted against, as did Austria and Hungary. Germany, Italy, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands abstained.

Officially, Switzerland consistently sides with international law in such cases. But here the situation is not clear: the UN Charter expressly provides for the right to self-defense. While it also means that civilians or civilian objects may not be deliberately attacked, this does not apply, according to experts in international law, if a party deliberately places military positions such as those of Hamas in residential areas or under hospitals.

Center criticism of the FDP Federal Council

The decision caused irritation in the Swiss political landscape. Mitte President Gerhard Pfister (61) is critical. He wondered And Pfister can’t resist taking a shot at political competition. He therefore raises the question of whether Cassis will go into hiding until the elections for the Federal Council, in which the Greens want to attack his seat.

In an interview with the “Sonntagszeitung”, the FDFA referred to the official justification read out by the Swiss UN delegation in New York: “Responded with the call for an ‘immediate, permanent and lasting humanitarian ceasefire leading to a cessation of hostilities’ “The resolution responds to the most urgent need: to enable rapid, safe and unhindered access of humanitarian aid to the populations in need.”

There seems to be disagreement in the Federal Council

Although Switzerland voted yes, it condemns “in the strongest possible terms” Hamas’ “shocking and unjustifiable terrorist attacks” on Israel, the FDFA assures. As the department further explains, the Swiss UN mission acted in consultation with Federal Councilor Cassis: “The head of department was involved in the decision-making regarding the resolution in question.”

However, there appears to be no agreement in the Federal Council on this point. SVP Environment Minister Albert Rösti (56) emphasized during a memorial meeting in the synagogue in Bern that he believes the State of Israel has the right to self-defense to protect itself and its people.

Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan (53) is said to have reacted angrily to the resolution. “This organization was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust – it was about preventing atrocities,” he says. “However, the spectacle we have just witnessed has shown that the UN is no longer committed to preventing atrocities, but rather to enabling them.” The decision is a ‘disgrace’.

However, the decision was welcomed in a statement from Hamas, which called for immediate implementation of the ceasefire. However, the decision of the UN General Assembly is not binding. (dba)

Source:Blick