The Swiss Foreign Ministry called on Israel Wednesday to immediately withdraw from the re-occupied Palestinian territories and to let Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat exercise his freedom so that he can de-escalate the ongoing violence.
On Tuesday, the Swiss Foreign Minister summoned the Israeli ambassador to Bern and told him that at stake is the safety of a group of Swiss peace activists. Bern held both the Israelis and the Palestinians responsible for the safety of its Swiss citizens, according to KUNA.
Director of the political department Blaise Godet told Israeli ambassador Yigal Antebi that Switzerland believes the only way out of the current problematic situation is the negotiating path and noted that his country had supported Security Council resolutions 1397 and 1402.
In addition, Godet praised the Saudi peace initiative, which was adopted late last month by the Arab Summit in Beirut. (Albawaba.com)
