Palestine: Switzerland's strategic discretion

Seventeen prominent Israeli human rights organizations issued an urgent appeal in July, calling on the international community to exert immediate pressure on the Israeli government to halt settler violence and accelerated colonization in the West Bank. The appeal, signed by groups like B'tselem, Gisha, and Peace Now, urged Israel to protect Palestinians in accordance with international law.

Despite the gravity of the appeal and the unprecedented levels of settler violence, it garnered minimal public attention. The UN has recorded nearly 1,500 incidents of settler violence in the West Bank this year, affecting around 260 Palestinian communities, often with the Israeli army present. This violence accompanies a rapid expansion of settlements, with Israel approving over 12,000 new housing units since January and allocating $431 million in July to establish 34 new settlements.

Switzerland, which has provided support to some of these rights organizations, maintains a strategic discretion in its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The article suggests that while Switzerland supports human rights advocacy, its public engagement on the issue remains low-key, contrasting with the escalating situation on the ground.

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We call on the international community to act without delay. Immediate pressure must be exerted on the Israeli government to end the new attacks [...] ensure the protection of Palestinians in accordance with Israel's obligations under international law.