Switzerland / Gaza - Upper House of Swiss Parliament Reverses Lower House Decision to End Funding for UNRWA
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UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the upper house's decision. "It's important that Switzerland continue to tell to the Palestinians and to the region that it remains committed to its humanitarian tradition," he said. "These 20 million are absolutely essential for UNRWA to continue to deliver its lifesaving and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip."
Lazzarini expressed relief after previously denouncing attempts to undermine UNRWA's operations. The legislator who introduced the initiative to cut funding had argued the agency lacked objectivity after visiting UNRWA earlier this year.
See Reuters Switzerland blocks bid to end funding
UNRWA has not yet lost support from Switzerland. The Council of States, with two votes apart, decided this Thursday not to cut the 20 million annual francs paid to the UN organization. But this is just temporary as he wants his preparatory commission to hear Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis to get “an idea of the consequences of the measure”. This ignominious offensive launched earlier this week by the far-right party (UDC/SVP), and supported by the other right parties (called the bourgeois camp) had clearly accepted the abolition of the payment. Let’s see what will happen. Philippe Lazzarini, Head of UNRWA, is a Swiss citizen (an excellent professional and a fine diplomat I used to rub shoulders with in Somalia).
ReplyDeleteWell the upper house won only by 2 votes. It's worrisome. The support is fading?
ReplyDeleteThe Swiss parliament confirmed the Swiss contribution to UNRWA.
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