Switzerland’s House of Representatives rejected a motion on Tuesday to recognize Palestinian statehood by a vote of 131-61, with two abstentions.
The motion was put forward by National Council member Fabian Molina of the Social Democratic Party, with the support of the Greens.
It called for the recognition of “Palestine” on the condition that the Israeli hostages kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7 be released.
According to a report in SWI swissinfo.ch, “the tone was, at times, emotional.”
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has stated that Bern’s position is supportive of an Israeli state and Palestinian state side by side with recognized borders.
“However, the Federal Council does not believe that the time is right to recognise Palestine,” the article stated.
Australia’s Parliament last week voted down by 80-5 a proposal to recognize a “State of Palestine.”
The Swiss rejection comes as a number of other European countries recognize Palestinian statehood in the wake of the Hamas-led attack on Oct.7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, with Slovenia becoming the latest to make the move.
