The Swiss foreign ministry says it "strongly condemns" Israel's demolition of the old Shepherd Hotel in Jerusalem and plans for a new Israeli settlement in its place.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch
It said in a statement on Monday evening that the move was in violation of international law and undermined efforts to resume peace negotiations.
“[The ministry] points out that East Jerusalem is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory, and that its annexation by Israel is considered as illegal by the international community,” said the statement.
It appealed to the Israeli authorities to respect international law and to avoid any actions which might jeopardise the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Shepherd Hotel, torn down on Sunday as part of a settlement project first announced in 2009, was declared “absentee property” by Israel after it captured and annexed East Jerusalem. Israel views all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim that is not recognised internationally.
The United Nations and the United States have also issued criticism of Israel’s actions.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss group pushes for peace in Jerusalem
This content was published on
Yet a Swiss organisation continues to push for peace in Jerusalem. For the Lassalle Institute, the project “Jerusalem – Open City for Learning World Peace” is a priority. Located in Bad Schönbrunn near the central Swiss town of Zug, the institute addresses leaders in business, politics and other sectors, advocating ethics rooted in holistic awareness.…
This content was published on
During his three-day trip Maurer met Israeli President Shimon Peres and Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who invited him. He also visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, and military bases on the Israel-Lebanon border and in Tel Aviv. Following his meeting on Monday with Barak and other top officials, Maurer told reporters in Tel…
This content was published on
Photographer Kai Wiedenhöfer documented life in the Occupied Territories. In the 1990s, he lived in the Gaza Strip and was known “Habib al-Shaab” – Friend of the People. He travelled with his cameras thousands of kilometres throughout the small enclave on his motorbike, observing changes over more than a decade. Wiedenhöfer speaks Arabic and relied…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.