The Jewish community is surprised and disturbed by the Swiss Socialist Party’s unexpected invitation to Daud Barak, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s representative accredited to the United Nations here, to participate in its annual assembly. Many Swiss Jews are active members of the Socialist Party which has, in the past, supported Israel unconditionally.
While Barakat made no speech at the Socialist gathering, the fact that he received a formal invitation to attend puzzles political observers. They are speculating as to whether the approach to the PLO delegate indicates a shift in the Socialist Party’s attitude toward Israel.
Foreign Minister Pierre Auber is a member of the Socialist Party. Prior to his nomination as Foreign Minister he was, president of the Swiss-Israel Friendship Association. Many Swiss Socialist leaders have visited Israel in the past and some have sent their children to stay at kibbutzim. The Socialist Party adopted a resolution at its assembly to give financial help to liberation movements in the Third World. First Face-to-face Talks in 2 Years:
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.
