Switzerland's Foreign Ministry may have adopted an outright policy that challenges Israeli laws concerning construction in Judea and Samaria, according to right-wing NGO Regavim.
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Regavim had reached out to the agency and the Swiss Embassy in Israel for comment after it appeared that the European country had been supporting the construction of a school in the Palestinian village of Kisan even though the project allegedly lacked the necessary approval from authorities.
Regavim then got a letter from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs' Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in which it defended Swiss support for a construction project that might be lacking the necessary paperwork, citing Israel's policies toward the Palestinians. Nevertheless, the agency insisted it was acting in line with Swiss policy.
"In line with its position on the conflict, as set forth by the 2021-2024 Middle East strategy, Switzerland believes that the planning regime, as implemented by Israel in Area C, does not comply with international law. Switzerland also believes that the land regime is being applied with discrimination, which harms the chances of a two-state solution," the letter read according to Regavim.
The letter further claimed that the school was not accessible enough for children with disabilities, which was the main reason it allegedly approved the funds.
CEO of Regavim Meir Deutsch said that any construction without a permit from the Judea and Samaria Civil Administration was illegal and violated Israeli and international law.
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