Thousands take part in Palestine demonstrations in Zurich and Geneva
Published: Saturday, Nov 11th 2023, 19:10
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In Zurich and Geneva on Saturday afternoon, a total of around 3,000 demonstrators called for a "free Gaza". Once again, the controversial chant "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" was chanted. The demonstrations on Helvetiaplatz and Place des Nations were authorized.
The slogan "From the river to the sea" is described by the Israeli side as clearly anti-Semitic, as it denies Israel and its inhabitants the right to exist.
One speaker also called on participants on Zurich's Helvetiaplatz to boycott "Israel-friendly" brands, such as the Starbucks coffee chain. The demonstration with around 1000 participants was guarded by a large contingent of police.
Zurich controversy over demo permit
The fact that the city of Zurich had authorized this demonstration led to differences with the cantonal security director Mario Fehr (non-party) this week. He had described the city's authorization as negligent and dangerous. It had nothing to do with freedom of expression if hate slogans were chanted.
The Zurich city government takes the position that it never judges applications for demonstrations on the basis of their political content, but solely on the question of whether security is guaranteed and the law is complied with.
The city of Bern has chosen a more restrictive approach. It decided this week that no more large demonstrations will be permitted in the city center from 17 November until Christmas.
Around 2000 people demonstrated in Geneva in support of the Palestinians. Numerous Palestinian flags flew through the streets as far as the Place des Nations, behind a banner calling for an "end to the genocide" in the Gaza Strip.
Calls in Geneva: Cassis should resign
The speakers called for pressure to be put on the federal authorities: "Switzerland has a duty as a member of the UN Security Council and as the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions to call for an immediate ceasefire," said one of them. "Cassis, resign!" chanted the crowd.
The placards in the demonstration read: "Cassis as accomplice", "Bern must stop military cooperation with Israel", "Free Palestine, Free Gaza", "4500 children killed in 33 days" and "Palestine, no peace without justice". "Stop the massacre of the Palestinian people" and "Israel as murderer, Switzerland as accomplice", chanted the demonstrators.
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