Council of States supports motion Palestinian aid organization UNRWA should no longer receive money
Switzerland should stop its payments to the UN Palestinian Relief and Works Agency UNRWA immediately. The responsible Council of States committee supports a motion from the National Council by the narrowest of majorities.
18.02.2025, 11:51
18.02.2025, 12:06
SDA
The Council of States is expected to decide in the spring session whether Switzerland should stop its payments to the Palestinian relief organization UNRWA.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States (FAC-S) supported the motion by SVP National Councillor David Zuberbühler (AR) by 6 votes to 6 and with a casting vote by Committee President Marco Chiesa (SVP/TI), as the Parliamentary Services announced today. If the Council of States supports the motion, the Federal Council must act.
The majority of the APK-S was of the opinion that Switzerland should not support any organizations that may be linked to terrorism. Other organizations could take over UNRWA's tasks.
The minority, on the other hand, felt that the work of the UN relief organization in the region was indispensable. If payments to UNRWA were to be stopped, this would have dramatic consequences for the civilian population.
The National Council adopted Zuberbühler's motion in September. This triggered fierce criticism. Around twenty former Swiss state secretaries, ambassadors and Middle East specialists sent a letter to the Council of States calling on it not to stop UNRWA payments.
