Switzerland joined other European countries in suspending their financial aid to the Palestinian Authority and organizations that support it.
President Macron: "We will work together against this terror - just as we acted against ISIS" // Reuters
According to an announcement by the Swiss Foreign Ministry, aid to 11 pro-Palestinian organizations, some registered in Israel and some in the PA, will be stopped. "Given the new situation created since the Hamas attack on Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to suspend financial assistance to 11 NGOs," the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The Foreign Ministry's activity in the Middle East must adapt itself to the new context that began with the outbreak of hostilities," the Swiss explained.
Switzerland is not the only country that has decided to reexamine its economic ties with the Palestinians. German Foreign Minister Annalea Barbork said she would cooperate with a decision by the Bundestag to review the extensive aid Germany is providing to the Palestinians. "Of course we don't fund terrorism," she said.
Represents solidarity in Berlin, Germany, photo: AP
Demand a stay away from terrorism
Austria is also suspending its economic support for the Palestinians in response to the Hamas attack. Austria's foreign minister, Alexander Schellenberg, said during the first week of fighting that 19 million euros in aid for a long list of projects would be halted.
Other countries that have decided to reexamine their economic support for the Palestinians are Sweden and Denmark. Sweden's international cooperation minister, Johan Pursel, said: "We don't want Swedish taxpayer money going to actors who don't have a very clear opinion on these fundamental issues of staying away from terrorism."
Denmark has also decided to examine where state aid funds are directed, and decisions on how to continue supporting the Palestinians, if at all, will be made within a few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Czech defense minister called on her country to take an even more significant step in favor of Israel and suggested that Prague withdraw from the UN. Minister Yana Chernichova said: "The Czech Republic has no place in an organization that supports terrorists and does not respect the basic right to self-defense. Let's get out of there."
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