News
Swiss FM: Hamas 'major player' in Middle East
AFP
Published: 20.07.09, 00:15
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
52 Talkbacks for this article
1. But Switzerland is not
Global Citizen ,   Israel & USA   (07.20.09)
Put a sock in it, appeasing fool. We're not going down with you.
2. Next time they visit Switzerland
INCognito   (07.20.09)
Mossad should prepare a proper reception.
3. Swiss love Iranian Holocaust deniers
Elly ,   Vienna, Austria   (07.20.09)
Swiss Calmy Rey and mr Mertz the president love Iranian holocaust deniers. Israel to close relations.
4. Hamas major ME players???
William ,   Israel   (07.20.09)
I didn't know the Swiss had the authority to promote people, especially murderous Islamists in the face of a majority Sunni Middle East. It wouldn't be the first time that a European nation played favorites and "promoted" people as new "players".
5. Too much skiing and chocolates has got this ones clock wound
too tight wouldn't ,   you say??!!!!!!!   (07.20.09)
6. Switzerland
PW ,   Virginia USA   (07.20.09)
Israel should pull its ambassador and break relations with this terrorist enabling state. And to the comment that the Swiss are neutral like during WW 2. They are the biggest money whores in the world. The list of dictators and criminals whom the Swiss allow to keep their money safe is long and nefarious.
7. When muslim bombs blow in swiss.......
Bernard Ross ,   St anns bay, jamaica   (07.20.09)
....israel should understand the bombers reasons, after all, it will be dead swiss not dead israeli. This is more acceptable.
8. Swiss 'impartiality' at its finest!
Daniel ,   Tel Aviv   (07.20.09)
Since they seem to have so much love for Hamas, Iran and Hizbullah, why not allow them to build mosques and training camps in Zurich and Geneve? I am sure a few Islamist crazies and suicide bombers wouldn't bother the peaceful people of Switzerland.
9. Express concern "a la Swiss"
eric   (07.20.09)
Surprised? Why should we be. The Swiss have proven expertise in engaging " all parties ". This approach turned out to be a " gold mine " in the late 30's t'il mid 40's...... and paid off for many years after.
10. Swiss FM
Spencer ,   Israel   (07.20.09)
She says Switzerland is neutral. That's a bad joke. She might as well fly the Hamas flag outside her home! She says she's concerned about the humanitarian situation is Gaza. Has she ever expressed concern of the rocket attacks on Israel's civilian population or the suicide bombers?? Come on Calmy -Rey, you're not fooling anyone. You are no more neutral than Hitler was during WW II. It wont be long before you're bitten by the dog you're feeding. Switzerland will feel the wrath of Islamic terrorism in the not too distant future.
11. MYTH
DAVID ,   JUDEA   (07.20.09)
neutrality has always been the Swiss trump card, which only is applied when money is concerned. Their dirty role during the Shoah is well documented and their comtinued double faced anti ISRAEL policies are far from neutral. We can ignore the Swiss and their clueless stupid shamefull attitude. We have not forgotten how they they roled out the red carpet for the Hitler from Teheran. Hopefully soon the Swiss will get their long overdue payback with interest from their buddies the Islam terrorists.
12. Swiss
Iranian Jew ,   CA   (07.20.09)
Wow! Major development and break through! I guess there's not much to write about today. Let me guess. They also get help from Iran. ...
13. her foreign policies is like a Swiss cheese, full of holes
Zohan ,   Tel Aviv   (07.20.09)
Switzerland, being neutral is not innocent. Switzerland is a big laundry cleaning dirty money from corrupted leaders n dictators around the world as long as I can remember.
14. no nutral anymore, and love terrorists.
ghostq   (07.20.09)
that country is going down.
15. @11 fools
Margo   (07.20.09)
David and others... you just keep telling yourself that Hamas is nothing, Fatah is nothing etc.... you had xxx years of nothing PLO too...... if you keep telling yourself all the nothings are nothings maybe they will go away? This has nothing to do with neutrality- the Swiss are not taking sides- THAT is neutrality- they are trying to keep the road open for negotiations- . Israel has made many mistakes- and has not learned much by them.... always blaming everybody else is counter productive and is not leading anywhere. Is the conflict closer to being solved now? No- it is worse than it has been in a long time- besides: Israel is making some feeble attempts at talking with Hams and Fatah- . All the insults and remarks against another country are pretty stupid emotional outbursts. Save it for your internal problems-
16. #13 Zohan
Lukas   (07.20.09)
neutrality, money laundering, Nazis- anything else? Today must be Swiss bashing day- this news is several days old- only you didn't hear about it? Ha! What I would like to know is: what gives Israel, the Israeli FM, the wise guys in TB the right to TELL a foreign country who it can meet and talk to? You wouldn't DARE talk like this to your buddies the Americans! The Swiss do not tell Israel who it can talk to. On a diplomatic level Israel is pretty basic... lots of furious outburts, threats, pouting- like a naughty little child throwing a temper tantrum. Grow up- take a deep breath- save your insults for the rioters in your own country!
17. to Lukas
Vreni ,   Switzerland   (07.20.09)
i think you are right. No country should tell the other whom to invite ..then why is Ms. Calmy-Rey inviting Hamas? She claims SHE can solve the middle East problem!!!! Is this not mingling? Why not leave it to the "players' in the Middle East to solve their own problems? If this would have been the case from 1948 onwards there would have been peace long time ago. Ms. Rey wants the nice Shiite money from Iran and co. as well as the Sunni one from Saudia , this is why she "invites' Hamas. It is just an intern problem of Switzerland as the UBS is already in arab hands 35 % are owned by a trust from Arab countries as well as 20% by a trust from Indonesia (muslim)
18. #14 ghostq - love who?
swiss   (07.20.09)
neutral? Israel certainly is NOT neutral- it is interfering in a foreign countries business. You don't know what was talked about- so butt out. I remember the US president embracing Arafat and Israel watching- not a peep- . Israel would not DARE insult the US like it does the Swiss- . My Israeli friend said once: "we Israelis are rude"- I did not believe him- he is right!
19. #2 Mossad reception?
Lara   (07.20.09)
INCognito- right on- brute force will solve all the problem- like it has in the past??????? NOT! If Israelis would concentrate on solving their internal problems and the problems with their neighbors- it would have less time to throw a hissy fit every time a foreign country meets with somebody that is not Israel's friend- wow- who is Israel's friends these days? I read the Ynet TBs- and there are NO FRIENDS left- all the European countries are nazis, islamofascist, and anti-semites- all the neighbors in the Middle East are islamo fascist and anti-semites.... it must be so lonely- being the only perfect country in the world! Get real!
20. #7 Jamaica
Ron   (07.20.09)
do you know where Switzerland is? Why should Hamas bomb Switzerland? You don't know what you are talking about.
21. to #18 switazland far for being nutral
ghostq   (07.20.09)
when your country support an org that made so many sucide bombs, and responsible for so many deathes of innocents, not only you r greedy for money you also play with fire, just a fair warning cause the terror camp going to be in your country. so enjoy, and... USA turned it's back on Israel, so noone cares anymore what the commedians in the leadership there r doing, USA leaders won't bring the baycon home, so what if Israelis r rude better to be rude with heart of gold than to be well mannerd like your country with heart of stone. you just coldly and very politly hurt people, nutral you never were never will be. especially now after inviting terror org like hamas a respectful bank account.
22. #3 Love?
max   (07.20.09)
why would the Swiss love Hamas and the Iran president? This is such a stupid remark- meeting someone on a diplomatic level does not mean you agree, or love someone, or a country- this is emotional garbage- think about it. Israel is making a great mistake by ignoring Hamas- they did not accept Arafat and Abbas either at first- now they do..... Hamas will be next...the problem will not go away by ignoring it- putting your head in the sand? A neutral country that can talk to both sides, that has no vested interest- would be better than let's say Egypt (too many islamo fascists - political threat to president), Turkey? (too many muslims), who is left? The Americans? How many years have they tried- all the shuttle diplomacy and still a square one.. But of course Israeli TBs are too stubborn to admit this- armchair dipolmats!
23. old love stays always the strongest
michel ,   france   (07.20.09)
seventy years after ttheir relationship with the nazi reich, they have the opportunity of a remake whith their heirs, so they don't miss it.the first time they earn alot of money and shure they hope for again.
24. #15-20: Same person on a rabid roll. Read up on Arafat
Global Citizen ,   Israel & USA   (07.20.09)
and Israel's efforts with the PLO - does the term Oslo Accord mean anything to you? Two-faced "peace" partner? Since they're coming for you next, I suggest you know your enemy - and don't bend over for them.
25. Maybe the time is ripe to have ambassadors with long payot
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim,   (07.20.09)
26. NR 15 MARGO
DAVID ,   JUDEA   (07.20.09)
There is only one possible reply to the likes of you stay out of our business . The Swiss and the likes of you have proven over and over again your love for Facists. Nobody is asking you to "negotiate" on our behalve.Beides that we know your one sided biased hatred towards us. For once try to be honest and do not hide behind your false liberal ideas, you just do not like us. You can keep your Islam facists for all I care. If we would have a normal government for once, this situation would have been solved a long time ago. You can believe in the lies of a Palestinian state and al its made up historic rights. Before you start calling someone a fool, take a long hard look in the mirror, it must realy pss you of that we are still here no matter how hard you try to tell and treat us like we are nothing.
27. #42 Global Citizen
World traveler   (07.20.09)
maybe, Global Citizen- what is it to you? It is a foreign country- the Swiss are not going to ask for your help- nor advice I am sure. I wonder why Israel finds it necessary to make such a fuss- Israel is NOT the guardian of the free world- . re Oslo accord: yes- and? They broke it- but Israel was there and signed it- remember? And the US was practically forcing Israel- so why don't you put the blame where it belongs? As far as I can see, there is a lot of room for new and improved talks- why you guys bother with Turkey and Egypt? So far not much progress, is there? Switzerland is most likely more neutral than all the previous negotiators- it means you can mediate with BOTH sides---- it does NOT work when the mediator has a personal interest- (like Egypt and Turkey as another Tb already said....). I am not Swiss by the way- but I am surprised Israelis are so emotional and feel so threatened every time a country does not ask for permission before meeting some one, anyone.. Totally unnecessary and a bit immature.
28. #23 michel from France
AndrĂ©-Michel   (07.20.09)
Switzerland did NOT have a relationship with the Nazi Reich- unlike the French- remember? Remaking history now, are we?
29. Whatever happened to neutrality?
Steve   (07.20.09)
The Swiss Government claims to be neutral, and pursuing a policy of neutrality is fine. However, meeting with a group of murderers and giving legitimacy to a terrorist organization is unacceptable. Hamas is not a legitimate political party, it is a terrorist militia that murders innocent civilians. Unfortunately Switzerland has just added itself to the growing list of states which legitimize terrorism. Perhaps if the rockets were being fired into Zurich instead of Sderot, the Swiss Government would think slightly differently.
30. All Swiss cheesecake here
Zohan ,   Tel Aviv   (07.20.09)
You are all blooody pretenders. pretending to be neutral while bootlicking the Iranians and its franchaise. When Iran got their nuke, Switzerland would be the first country they love to invadecuz, they are loaded with dirty money. You can start laughing now.
Next talkbacks
Back to article