Council of States saves Swiss unnach money: the main arguments
Middle East conflict
The Council of States saves the Swiss funds for the Palestinian aid organization Unrwa
The unrwa money should not be frozen immediately. The Council of States buried a template on Tuesday that the National Council still approved. The debate went along three lines of conflict and revealed fundamental contradictions.
The Palestinian UN Hilfswerk Unrwa has long been suspected of being infiltrated by the terrorist organization Hamas. Last year it was nine of its employees who were in favor of Israeli in the massacre on October 7, 2023. Even in Switzerland, debates flared up to what extent the UNRWA should still be supported against this background.
Are disagreed with how Switzerland should react to the allegations against the Palestinian relief organization Unrwa: Zurich Daniel Jositsch (SP) and the Geneva Carlo Sommaruga (SP).
On Tuesday morning, the Council of States advised four templates on the subject. He declined three of them, including the controversial freight freezing of the UNRWA money. Switzerland will continue to support the aid organization financially. The order to the Federal Council was accepted to work in the UN for reforming Palestinian refugee aid.
To what extent the support to the Palestinians should continue seems anything but clear. Because the parliament is divided on three questions that also affect the future.
What is the sign of Switzerland?
In addition to the financial and humanitarian question, the external effect of the decision was interested. « Today's debate has a symbolic value, » says the Ticino Fabio Regazzi (center). Schaffhauser Hannes Germann (SVP) says: « If we do not freeze the funds, we signal that you can simply continue as before. » It shouldn't be that a terrorist rase is hidden among the schools and hospitals of the Unrwa, « and nobody wants to have seen or heard anything ».
« If we freeze the funds, the global community could interpret this from the two -state solution as a turn away from Switzerland, » warns Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. The Geneva Mauro Poggia (MCG) says: « 12 out of 30,000 employees allegedly supported the October massacre. » Due to “vague accusations” to freeze all funds, he finds disproportionate: “The worst criminals would be acquitted under these circumstances.” Freiburg center-country councilor Isabelle Chassot says: « We send a signal to the world that Switzerland pays attention to international law. »
Are there alternatives to the Unrwa?
Germann says: « I just can't tell me that there are no alternatives to the Unrwa. » The World Food Program, the WHO, Unicef and other NGOs are offering themselves. According to the latest findings, according to Germann, there are still about 15 percent of the relief supplies that would be handled over the Unrwa in the Gaza strip. He says: « If we cannot replace this 15 percent, the world is really poor. » Aargauer Marianne Binder-Keller (center) also sees the proof that there must be alternatives.
CHASSOT keeps another number: «Only the UNRWA has the capacity to offer emergency aid to the current extent. Over 60 percent of the relief supplies come to the occupied areas via the UNRWA. » The Geneva Carlo Sommaruga (SP) says: « I see no alternative today, and it is our moral and international law to continue to ensure humanitarian aid by the UNRWA. » The Solothurness Franziska Roth (SP) twice: « Anyone who weakens the Unrwa now leaves the field of Hamas and her protective power. »
So what's next? Grounding or reform?
The St.Gallen Benedikt Würth (center) divides the options into two categories: « Today we have commissioned the Federal Council to work for a successor solution at the UN. » That is a reform approach. « Freezing Geldern, on the other hand, is a grounding approach, and not only for Gaza, but also for Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. » Würth does not find any legitimate approach as long as it is not clear who could continue the hospital and school facilities. « In the end, that could produce more radicalization again. »
The Zurich Daniel Jositsch (SP) keeps: « Do you think the UN changes just because Switzerland wants that? » You have to force the UN because it strives for the preservation of its own organizations. Middle Councilor Fabio Regazzi says: «Switzerland pays CHF 20 million to the UNRWA total budget of CHF 1.2 billion. You can't speak of a grounding if the Swiss contribution falls away. »
This discussion is completed at short notice, the funds are not frozen. In the medium term, the Federal Council must now show which alternatives there are for the support of the Palestinian population.
