The National Council wants to cut off funding to Palestinian aid organizations. A decision must now be made by the Council of State. Opinion in the SP is sharply divided.
Francesco Bernini/ch media
In September, the National Council voted in favor of Switzerland no longer transferring money to UNRWA, the United Nations relief agency for Palestine. What is the Council of State doing now? The Foreign Policy Committee meeting on November 21 next year is very important.
Daniel Josic once again disagrees with his party's views.Image: trapezoid
The senior vice president favored cutting off financial aid to the aid organization. Two arguments stand out: According to the Israeli Secret Service, 12 employees of the organization were involved in the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. In school textbooks the aid group works with, jihad is glorified and maps of Israel are missing.
The Socialists and Greens still support continued Swiss aid. State Councilor Franziska Ross emphasized that almost all of the 2.2 million residents living in the Gaza Strip need humanitarian assistance. The UNRWA aid agency has about 13,000 staff in the Gaza Strip, while the International Committee of the Red Cross, the second-largest humanitarian organization, employs only 200 people there.
UNRWA has no replacement: SP State Councilor Franziska Roth.Image: trapezoid
“Only UNRWA has the staff to provide humanitarian assistance to 2.2 million people,” State Councilor Ross stressed. One thing is clear: the Palestinian relief organization can be criticized, but it must improve. But it cannot simply be replaced by other humanitarian organizations.
“Almost all Western countries have now resumed payments to UNRWA. Given the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the fact that Switzerland wants to withdraw its troops from here is fatal.”
Carlo Sommaruga talks about 'genocide in Gaza'
Ross’s party colleague Carlo Sommaruga chose fiery words:
“Cutting funding for UNRWA means becoming an accomplice to the genocide taking place in Gaza. It means taking Switzerland out of the international arena and out of the game in the humanitarian world.”
Fierce words: SP State Councilor Carlo Sommaruga.Image: trapezoid
The third SP representative on the Foreign Policy Committee of the Small House has a completely different view. State Councilor Daniel Josic said he was in favor of withdrawing financial support from the aid group.
“We cannot use Swiss tax dollars to support an organization with anti-Semitic tendencies. The aid organization's weaknesses have been known for years but have never been corrected.”
Josic calls on Socialist Party leadership to intervene – but fails
Josic, who belongs to Judaism, recently called on the Socialist Party leadership to intervene: Young Socialists have joined the anti-Israel movement “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions”. The SP leadership made this happen.
The attitude of the Center and the Liberal Democrats is now crucial to the Council of State's stance on financial support for Palestinian relief organizations. Lawmakers from both parties said they wanted to seek more information on the issue.
FDP National Councilor Damian Müller explained that he was skeptical of UNRWA. They failed to implement reforms. The federal government and the United Nations should review the use of other aid organizations. (aargauerzeitung.ch)
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