Switzerland and Israel
Since the massacre of 7 October 2023, in which over 1,200 Israeli infants, children, adolescents, women and men were horrifically murdered by members of the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, the Swiss public has shown great support for Israel.
Switzerland and Israel have also enjoyed close economic and military relations for many decades. There are different currents in Swiss politics: At parliamentary level (National Council and Council of States), there has been clear support for Israel’s right to self-defense and condemnation of Palestinian terror, particularly since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. In the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), on the other hand, anti-Israel tendencies have dominated at official level since the term of office of former Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, which is also reflected in Switzerland’s voting behavior in the UN. This is despite the fact that Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, is himself pro-Israel.
