Middle East Swiss voters to decide on recognition of Palestine
The people and the cantons should decide whether Switzerland recognizes Palestine as an independent and sovereign state. Signatures for the federal popular initiative "For the recognition of the State of Palestine" have been collected since Tuesday.
14.10.2025, 09:45
SDA
For the initiative to be passed, 100,000 valid signatures must be collected by April 14, 2027. The initiative is backed by the International Law Committee, which includes several members of parliament from the SP and Green parliamentary groups.
The initiative calls for a passage on the recognition of Palestine to be added to the Federal Constitution. It should state that Switzerland recognizes Palestine as a sovereign and independent state. Following a yes vote, the Federal Council would have to submit a corresponding declaration to the UN within three months. The initiative text does not specify the territory of Palestine.
However, according to the Swiss ambassador to Israel, the prerequisite for recognition of the state of Palestine has not been met. Recognition should only take place if it has a positive effect on the two-state solution, Ambassador Simon Geissbühler told "Sonntagsblick" in September.
Several major Western states, including France, recently announced that they would recognize Palestinian independence. With France, four of the five UN veto powers, including Russia, Great Britain and China, have now recognized a state of Palestine - only the USA has not. Around 150 nations worldwide have done so.
