Ban Hezbollah? Switzerland “can damage its neutrality”

Should Switzerland ban Hezbollah? The PLR, the Center and the Socialist Party are for it. The UDC is divided. Some members could even rally to the position… of the Greens. We take stock.

Should Hamas and Hezbollah be banned in Switzerland? The Security Policy Committee of the Council of States tabled a motion calling for Hezbollah to be banned. It follows a separate item from the Federal Council in September, calling for a ban on Hamas. Parliament is expected to cross swords during the parliamentary session next December.

The condemnations are clear from the Radical Liberal Party (PLR) and the Center. Contacted, the secretariats of the two parties dominating the Council of States are clearly in favor of banning Hamas in Switzerland. For Hezbollah, discussions are ongoing, but they are already leaning in one direction:

The UDC divided

It is rather on the side of the UDC that divisions are felt. On Hamas, the party refers to a firm position dating from last May. But the discussions have not yet reached a consensus regarding Hezbollah. In the 19.30 of the RTS, the point of view of Friborg Pierre-André Page was clear:

This Monday, the secretariat of the agrarian party nevertheless referred us to Jean-Luc Addor, Valais national councilor member of the security policy commission of the National Council. But his words are not the same as those of his Friborg colleague:

“The debate will perhaps be quite complicated within the UDC,” admits the Valaisan. He says: “The ban on Hamas is already in the works and I fear that we are getting into a spiral.”

For Saviésan, “beyond a declamatory and symbolic action of support for Israel, what is it about?” Because the criterion that unites the two organizations, “apart from the fact that they are Islamist, is that they are in conflict with Israel,” he believes. And to blurt out:

Neutrality and impartiality

Surprisingly, part of Jean-Luc Addor’s argument is similar to that of one of his political rivals in Bern: the Geneva Green Nicolas Walder, who also believes that a “risk for our neutrality and impartiality” is present. .

A left-wing position opposed to that of the Socialist Party (PS), which explains having “supported in committee a ban on Hamas”, while insisting on the fact that “this must not hinder Switzerland’s efforts in terms of peace and of humanitarian engagement in the Middle East. He will examine the ban on Hezbollah “carefully during parliamentary discussions”.

Nicolas Walder, however, wishes to indicate that “the Greens have supported, since well before October 7, 2023, the adoption by Switzerland of economic sanctions against movements or governments which violate international law, in particular humanitarian law”.

He also adds that, in the current international political framework, “a ban on Hezbollah could be considered as interference in the political affairs of a third state.”

If Jean-Luc Addor notes the terrorist nature of Hamas, particularly with the attacks of October 7, he believes that the political importance of Hezbollah should not be underestimated. “It is a structured and politically active organization in Lebanon which has a quasi-regular army.” And if he recognizes that it “periodically launches rockets at Israel”, he wonders:

A point of view opposed, for example, to that of the PLR, which does not consider Hezbollah as an integral part of the Lebanese state:

A danger for Swiss internal security?

Nicolas Walder also assures that “neither Hamas nor Hezbollah currently pose a danger to the internal security of our country”. Jean-Luc Addor also wonders “what are the reasons to think that Hezbollah is active in Switzerland”, while emphasizing:

“I have no sympathy for these Islamist movements,” notes Jean-Luc Addor. “I am one of those who think that Islamism and Islam are a danger for Europe.”

As for Nicolas Walder, he wants to be pragmatic and projects himself after the terrible war which is shaking the Middle East. He believes first of all that “the search for a ceasefire” must include “a discussion with all the parties”. He also wonders how to “finance the necessary reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon”.