The Local Switzerland

Geneva: US envoy leads protest over anti-Israeli 'bigotry' at UN council

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 20:13:29 +0100

The US ambassador to Germany led protests outside the UN Monday over what he termed the "bigotry" faced by Israel at the Human Rights Council, as nations weighed condemnations of the Jewish state.

Switzerland ‘regrets’ US decision to quit UN Human Rights Council

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:25:07 +0200

Switzerland's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it regretted the decision of the United States to withdraw from the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council.

Swiss diplomats refused entry to Gaza after meetings with Hamas

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 13:25:29 +0100

Israel will refuse Swiss diplomats access to the Gaza Strip until further notice after recent meetings were held with Hamas leaders, an Israeli official said on Wednesday.

Defence ministry under fire over Israeli drone tests

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:25:58 +0100

The Swiss defence ministry has admitted to a “communications breakdown” after it emerged that it had been testing reconnaissance drones in the Golan Heights.

Palestinian leader to address UN in Geneva

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:25:04 +0200

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will next week address the United Nations' top human rights body in Geneva, the UN said on Tuesday, as a wave of violence in Israel continues despite international calls for calm.

Switzerland approves plan to buy Israeli drones

Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:57:33 +0200

Switzerland's parliament on Monday voted in favour of a controversial plan to buy six Israeli surveillance drones worth 250 million Swiss francs ($256 million, €230 million).

War crimes 'likely by both sides in Gaza war'

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 21:57:40 +0200

Evidence showed both Israel and Palestinian militants committed war crimes during last year's Gaza war, a widely anticipated United Nations report says, decrying "unprecedented" devastation and human suffering.

Israel slams Swiss funding of NGO's exhibit

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 09:54:26 +0200

Israel has lodged a formal protest with Bern over Swiss funding for an exhibit by an Israeli NGO critical of the army's conduct in the Palestinian territories.

Middle East civil rights urged at Geneva meet

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:13:00 +0100

An international conference in Geneva on Wednesday called on both Israelis and Palestinians to respect humanitarian rights laws in the occupied territories, but was condemned by Israel as a "political exercise".

Israel hits back at Swiss over rights conference

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 19:12:00 +0100

Israel on Friday condemned Switzerland's plan to host a conference on respect for international human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, charging it was a deviation from the country's traditional neutrality.

Geneva Conventions talks tabled for Palestine

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 10:58:00 +0200

The Swiss foreign ministry said on Wednesday it is in talks about holding an international conference sought by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas focusing on protecting civilians in Gaza.

Israel's actions 'may be war crimes': Pillay

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 13:38:00 +0200

Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip could amount to war crimes, UN rights chief Navi Pillay said in Geneva on Wednesday, while also condemning indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian militants Hamas.

Gaydamak set free after resolving pay dispute

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 23:33:00 +0100

French-Israeli tycoon Arcady Gaydamak was released from jail in Geneva after signing a financial agreement to resolve a dispute with former French football player Luis Fernandez, a newspaper reported online on Wednesday night.

Businessman Gaydamak denied bail in Geneva

Tue, 03 Dec 2013 00:35:00 +0100

A Geneva tribunal has rejected a request for bail by French-Israeli tycoon Arcady Gaydamak over a breach of trust case linked to the Israeli football club Beitar Jerusalem, which he once owned.

Israel's no-show sparks human rights flap

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:32:18 +0100

Israel on Tuesday became the first country to boycott a UN Human Rights Council review of its rights situation, sparking heated debate among diplomats on how to respond.

Migros to label goods from Israeli settlements

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:47:00 +0200

Swiss supermarket chain Migros has announced that it will begin adding special labels to any products that come from "Occupied Palestinian Territories".

Pro-Palestinian activists halted in Geneva

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 10:52:00 +0200

Several dozen pro-Palestinian activists protested at Geneva airport on Sunday, saying authorities prevented them from boarding a Tel Aviv-bound flight as part of a "fly-in" that Israel has vowed
to block.

'Flytilla' activists blocked at Geneva airport

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:40:00 +0200

Some 50 passengers who described themselves as "pro-Palestinian" were prevented from embarking on a flight to Israel from Geneva airport on Friday, officials said, prompting flight delays.

Swiss politicians to travel with Gaza flotilla

Wed, 25 May 2011 13:19:00 +0200

Swiss MPs and journalists are set to travel aboard a Swiss ship taking part in an aid convoy bound for the Gaza Strip at the end of June, it was reported on Tuesday. The ten-ship flotilla was organized by human rights activists.

Swiss-Israeli meeting discusses Arab Uprisings

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:09:23 +0200

Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey met her Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres in Geneva on Monday, where they discussed the uprisings in the Arab world.