Israel blasts Switzerland for hosting a summit on occupied Palestine

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The human rights problems facing Palestinians living under occupation are exceptional in both scope and scale.
The human rights problems facing Palestinians living under occupation are exceptional in both scope and scale.  Shown is part of he Israeli separation wall

Israel blasted Switzerland for hosting an international conference next week on how rules of war known as the Geneva Conventions apply in the Palestinian territories, charging the move raises doubts about the famous Swiss neutrality.

Israel’s foreign ministry said the summit is a political move with the “sole purpose” to assail Israel.

Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Pierre-Alain Eltschinger defended the summit. He said on Friday that the gathering will discuss respect of “international humanitarian law , especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, in the occupied Palestinian territory, ” which defines humanitarian protections for civilians in a war zone.

Palestinians demand the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, as part of their future state. Israel says territorial withdrawals along with other core issues like security should be resolved in peace talks.

Israel and the United States are however not expected to attend the December 17th conference .

The conference, long in the works, comes after a senior Palestinian cabinet minister Ziad Abu Ein died in a confrontation with Israeli troops, adding to tensions that have threatened to boil over into another round of violence in the occupied territories.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a picture of an Israeli soldier pushing Palestinian Cabinet minister Ziad Abu Ein, Ramallah, Dec. 10, 2014. Photo by AP
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas holds a picture of an Israeli soldier pushing Palestinian Cabinet minister Ziad Abu Ein, Ramallah, Dec. 10, 2014. Photo by AP

Despite an expected boycott from Israel and the United States, Swiss President Didier Burkhalter told local media he expected “very large participation” in the conference and that consultations had been ongoing for weeks.

“Our objective is to advance the cause of international humanitarian law,” Burkhalter said.

“Even if Israel and the United States boycott the meeting, the international community must speak on the issue. There is no denigration of Israel planned” from Switzerland, he said.

In calling the meeting, Switzerland is responding to a recommendation from the UN General Assembly at the request of Palestinian authorities.

The assembly passed a resolution in 2009 asking Switzerland to lead consultations on holding such a conference.

The consultations had been suspended since 2011 before being re-launched in July .

Permanent representatives to the UN in Geneva are expected to attend the conference.

AFP/AP/YL

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7 responses to “Israel blasts Switzerland for hosting a summit on occupied Palestine”

  1. I guess as far as Israel is concerned the neutrality of Switzerland means no humanitarian rights for the Palestinians.
    Bravo Switzerland !!!

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar

    Considering when those ‘Conventions’ were first made, and who was in on them at that time, it may be high time for a ‘review’ at least. There’s a lot of ‘bodies’ relaxing in those ‘high chambers’ these days, who were not there back then, and don’t seem to understand them either. Boycotting a ‘chat’ on the whole concept is just stupid.
    Of course, signing the results of democratically-decided texts is up to the individual …. right?
    Wouldn’t hurt one to listen … so there would be no ‘surprises’ in the future.

    I guess SOME people have noses out of joint because THEY didn’t think to call the meeting. 😉

    1. Hind Abyad Avatar

      Israel blast UK.. Israel blasts France..blast Spain.. blast Portugal.. blast Sweden…keep blasting the World: “The 1967 borders should be discussed in Piss talks”. There’s no more land, Palestinian state will be symbolic.. under a bridge.

  3. Beware America will try to drag all sunni countries and Iran to fight each others,even sunni will fight against sunni,if they can.America now working to plant full scale wars at the area.They are calling Turkey,Iran and Saudi to involve for America dirty wars.Once who trapped in the wars.noone can get out from the war.Hence no Muslims country will survive and will not harm Israel for many decades in future.America is working for Zionist Jews and Israel.America is not helping.It,s had been slaves to Jews bankers in the west for many centuries before.

    1. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
      Maborlz Ez-Hari

      It’s a circus complete with ring master and animals.

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