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Basel, Bern and Zurich are banning Middle East rallies this weekend. The security situation is too sensitive, according to the responsible authorities. The situation is different in western Switzerland, where there will also be busy demonstrations this weekend. Why?
“We are all Palestinians,” chanted around 4,500 demonstrators in Lausanne on Thursday evening. Without incident, the demonstrators loudly expressed their support for the Palestinian people, but also shouted anti-Israel slogans. In contrast to German-speaking Switzerland, further pro-Palestine rallies are also planned in French-speaking Switzerland next weekend.
Legend:
The pro-Palestine rallies in Lausanne went smoothly. Most demonstrations in French-speaking Switzerland go smoothly.
KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott
Another pro-Palestinian rally is scheduled to take place in Lausanne on Saturday. In response to a request from SRF, the city of Lausanne wrote that the demonstration on Thursday evening went off without any problems. There was no concrete evidence in advance that there could be security problems and that the event would have to be banned. The police are continuing to monitor the security situation particularly closely in this context.
A different culture of demonstration in French-speaking Switzerland
How does this different understanding of the security situation on the other side of the Röstigraben come about? This different approach has a lot to do with a different culture of demonstration in French-speaking Switzerland, says SRF Western Switzerland correspondent Felicie Notter: “Here in French-speaking Switzerland, tolerance for the expression of freedom of expression is generally high.”
Demonstrations are very important, also because of France’s cultural influence, said Notter. In contrast to German-speaking Switzerland, there is also less violence during demonstrations in French-speaking Switzerland. Around the first of May, when riots almost traditionally occur in German-speaking Switzerland. “There is no such problem of violence here.”
In addition, there are simply no violent core groups – no black bloc – that escalate violence on the fringes of demonstrations. “In general, demonstrations are very common here – and are hardly associated with violence,” adds Notter.
“The mood is very tense”
The Swiss Association of Jewish Communities (SIG) is happy about the ban on demonstrations in German-speaking Switzerland, although Jewish rallies are also included. “Safety comes first,” says SIG Secretary General Jonathan Kreutner. He I have noticed an increase in anti-Semitic actions in the last two weeks. There were three attacks against Jewish people within nine days. “We don’t know that in Switzerland.” This is also why the SIG publicly campaigned for the ban on demonstrations.
We have learned painfully in the last few days that words can lead to actions.
According to Kreutner, the escalation in the Middle East has not really begun yet. “The mood is still very tense.” It is not time to further inflame this mood. At any rallies, Kreuter fears that hate slogans and calls for violence against Jews could occur. “We have learned painfully in the last few days that words can lead to actions.”
Kreutner does not believe that the security situation in French-speaking Switzerland and German-speaking Switzerland is different. “Ultimately it’s a balancing of legal interests.” On the one hand there is freedom of assembly and expression, on the other there is security. “In the end, it is a political decision as to how the goods are weighted.”