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After the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel and the kidnappings in the Gaza Strip, it is also clear to outgoing members of parliament: Switzerland must ban Hamas. The payments to the UN relief agency for Palestine are controversial.
There is talk of a turning point or even a “9/11 moment” for Israel: the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas, in which over 1,300 Israelis were killed and around 150 were kidnapped as hostages in the Gaza Strip. In the past few days, Israel has responded with air strikes and has now sent its first ground troops to the Gaza Strip. There are currently around 1,800 deaths on the Palestinian side.
Change of opinion: Hamas ban seems possible
The shock of Hamas’ terrorist attack was also felt in the “Arena”, which was recorded early on Friday evening. Four members of parliament who will not stand for re-election on October 22nd were discussed. They agreed on one point: Switzerland must classify Hamas as a terrorist organization – and ban it.
It is imperative that we ban Hamas
“It is absolutely essential that we issue a ban on Hamas,” said SVP Councilor of States Alex Kuprecht. The SVP is the only party that has supported such a ban in recent years. However, there has recently been a change of opinion among the other parties.
For example at the SP. Individual Social Democrats were accused this week of trivializing the attack on Israel. SP National Councilor Edith Graf-Litscher said in the “Arena” that the party had held an extraordinary parliamentary group meeting on the topic this week. Result: “The SP condemns this terrorist-barbaric attack in every form.” But it is important that the civilian population is protected on both sides.
We have to be careful not to forget Ukraine because of the situation in the Middle East.
Center National Councilor Marco Romano argued that the Hamas ban was incorrectly presented by the SVP at the time. Now we have to look forward and implement it quickly. At the same time, he warned: “We have to be careful not to forget Ukraine because of the situation in the Middle East.”
FDP Council of States member Ruedi Noser himself lost an acquaintance in the Hamas attack on a festival in Israel’s Negev desert last Saturday. His demand is clear: “We have to withdraw our weapons in the Gaza Strip!” If that doesn’t happen, Switzerland will have to review its payments to the UN relief agency for Palestine, UNWRA. However, this was controversial on the show.
Last mood test before the elections
Political geographer Michael Hermann, head of the Sotomo research center, was also in the studio. This had carried out the election barometer on behalf of the SRG, according to which Die Mitte could overtake the FDP in the elections for the first time. A sensation by Swiss standards, says Hermann: “Four years ago, no one would have believed that this would be possible.”
The scenario doesn’t leave FDP Council of States member Noser unmoved. But: “If there is a debacle, it is that the FDP and the center are so weak together.” Center National Councilor Romano assured that his party would not try to get a second Federal Council seat at the expense of the FDP. “It is not a single election day that should determine the composition of the government, but rather long-term trends.”
Changes in the culture of political debate
It is important to elect personalities to the Federal Council, emphasized SVP Councilor of States Kuprecht. In the election of SP Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, for example, her agricultural background played too big a role. SP National Councilor Graf-Litscher replied that Baume-Schneider was doing a very good job. The SVP parliamentary group, however, behaved differently when they pestered Baume-Schneider with countless questions about asylum policy during the autumn session. Here Kuprecht also distanced himself from his own party: “I didn’t think it was a good move – it was almost a bit ridiculous.”
At the end there was once again agreement in the studio: the influence of social media has increased the political tone in recent years. Some of the departing politicians will probably not miss at least this part of the political work.