Swiss defend Hamas visa after Israeli protest

Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey has confirmed controversial talks took place with a top leader of the Palestinian Islamic movement, Hamas.

It comes after Israel strongly criticised a reported meeting in Geneva two weeks ago between diplomats and Mahmoud al-Zahar, a co-founder of Hamas and leader in the Gaza Strip.

“Hamas is an important political actor and must not be left out in discussions over a solution to the Middle East conflict,” Calmy-Rey told public radio on Wednesday.

She said Switzerland, unlike the European Union, did not consider Hamas a “terrorist organisation”, but condemned any terrorist activities.

Calmy-Rey gave no details of the meetings, but the Israeli ambassador to Switzerland has been invited to the foreign ministry on Thursday.

The Israeli embassy demanded an explanation as to why Switzerland gave the Palestinian delegation, apparently on a tour of several European countries, an entry visa.

“By officially receiving a Hamas delegation, Switzerland is not in line with those who advocate moderation,” an embassy statement said.

It added that a large part of the international community shunned Hamas because it was at war with Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority.

Relations between Switzerland and Israel have been strained in recent months after Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz received Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in April at an anti-racism conference in Geneva.

Shortly after that meeting Israel temporarily recalled its ambassador, Ilan Elgar, for consultation and to express the Jewish state’s displeasure over the meeting.

swissinfo.ch with agencies