Former Foreign Minister Pierre Auber, who was just elected President of Switzerland, believes that his country can play an active role in the search for a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict. Auber, who was elected to a one-year term by the seven member Federal Council, served for many years as president of the Swiss-Israel Friendship Association.
He resigned that position when he was named Foreign Minister in 1978. His election to the Presidency of the Swiss Confederation was strongly opposed by pro-Arab elements who feared he would favor Israel. But their lobbying efforts against his nomination failed. Auber, the son of a pastor, visited Israel several times and makes no secret of his sympathy for the Jewish State. As Foreign Minister be opposed the opening of a PLO office in Berne and refused to receive PLO chief Yasir Arafat.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
