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.
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.
