While the question of banning demonstrations in support of the Palestinians arises in France, in Switzerland, some are authorized and others prohibited, depending on the canton. In Hungary, it was Prime Minister Viktor Orban himself who banned a gathering.
In Switzerland, as throughout Europe, the question of banning demonstrations in support of the Palestinians arises. There is a difference in appreciation between German-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Switzerland. Bans on demonstrations are rather rare in French-speaking Switzerland, especially in Geneva, which defines itself as the capital of human rights. There are indeed demonstrations almost every day in front of the UN Palace of Nations on many subjects.
In German-speaking Switzerland, on the other hand, the authorities are much more reluctant to authorize parades, for security reasons as in France. Bern, Zurich and Basel have thus banned all demonstrations linked to the conflict and not just pro-Palestinian gatherings. Even if the rule has apparently evolved since gatherings took place in these cities last weekend even if they were not all authorized.
If there were no arrests or violence, the signs and slogans pose a problem since, for example, in Basel we could hear, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, “From the Jordan River to the sea, Palestine will be free”, in French. A formulation which can be understood as a call to deny the very existence of the State of Israel.
Switzerland in a special position
Unlike the European Union, Switzerland does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization and this is a consequence of Swiss neutrality. With the exception of Daesh and Al Qaeda, the country has never really had a blacklist of organizations classified as terrorist because it traditionally plays a mediating role in several conflicts. It has also done so between Israel and Hamas.
But faced with political pressure and public opinion, the government changed its mind and now says it is in favor of changing the status of Hamas. However, families of Israeli hostages are calling on Switzerland not to do so too quickly so that Bern can help negotiate the release of their loved ones.
Hungary: Viktor Orban bans support for Gaza
In Budapest, a demonstration of “Solidarity in Gaza”, scheduled for October 13 was banned. The Association of Palestinians Living in Hungary was at the origin of this initiative, where it expected 300 participants, mainly Arabic-speaking students.
This event was intended to be pacifist because this Palestinian association in Hungary does not recognize Hamas. “Hamas has no legitimacy to represent the Palestinian people”, estimated Aref Mohamed, the president of this association, who says he is close to the Palestinian Authority. In the speech he was to give from the podium, Aref Mohamed had planned to say these words: “The death of every human being, whether Jewish, Muslim or Christian, is a tragedy. We condemn the killing of innocent civilians, regardless of where those civilians are killed.”
The Hungarian police explain that Hamas had called on Muslims around the world to express their anger on October 13 and it is for this reason that the police acted preventively. In reality it was Prime Minister Viktor Orban who took to the phone to ban the event, declaring on public radio that these displays of sympathy for Palestine amounted to supporting terrorists.
Viktor Orban also has excellent personal relations with Benjamin Netanyahu. Firstly because they are at the head of two parties, Likud and Fidesz, originally rather liberal but which have completely shifted to the right. They are both nationalist politicians with the same strategy: constantly finding enemies. Whether it is the left, the LGBT, or the American billionaire George Soros, the goal is to divide society.
In addition, Viktor Orban is sometimes accused of pandering to latent anti-Semitism in his country. For example, authors associated with Nazism were included in school curricula. But Orban and Netanyahu have entered into a sort of tacit pact. The Israeli Prime Minister loudly proclaims that the Hungarian government is not anti-Semitic and in exchange, Viktor Orban supports Israel at the United Nations, and votes against resolutions that condemn Israel. The two politicians thus protect each other.