Former Federal Councillor Dreifuss criticizes suspended Swiss aid
Published: Saturday, Nov 11th 2023, 03:20
Updated At: Saturday, Nov 11th 2023, 03:23
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Former SP Federal Councillor Ruth Dreifuss has criticized Switzerland's freeze on funding for Palestinian and Israeli non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This weakens the peace movement on both sides, she said in an interview.
NGOs promote peace and cooperation in civil society, Dreifuss said in an interview with "Schweiz am Wochenende" published on Saturday.
"Where else in the world other than in the Middle East have so many people been campaigning for peace and human rights in such a tense situation for so long and with concrete activities?" she asked. She described the decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs as "more than wrong".
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) discontinued its support for six Palestinian and five Israeli NGOs at the end of October. This was due to the new situation since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the resumption of hostilities, it said.
Organizations as beacons of hope
The commitment of the organizations in the Middle East gives her hope for a solution, said Dreifuss. There must be a solution. "Be it with two states or with one state in which all people can live together in mutual respect for their diversity," said the former SP Federal Councillor. The Israeli settlements had literally blocked a two-state solution in the meantime. The form of a unified state still had to be found.
Dreifuss was the first member of the Federal Council of Jewish origin. Especially in the current situation, politicians should not be reduced to their Jewish background, she said. "The war concerns us all."
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