ByMATHILDA HELLER
Updated:

Switzerland's National Council voted 116-66 against recognizing Palestine as a state,  with 11 abstentions, on Tuesday.

The proposal was put forward by the Geneva Canton, which requested that Switzerland recognize the state of Palestine and “make every possible effort to establish a just and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, notably inspired by the Geneva Initiative.”

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council, which considered the proposal, said that while it "condemns the massacres taking place in the Middle East," a majority concluded that conditions are not yet in place to recognize a Palestinian state.

It cited international law, which requires three main conditions to be met before recognizing a state: a permanent population, a defined territory, and an independent and functioning government.

The committee found the third condition to be lacking, as there is no functioning organization to govern Palestine.

President of Switzerland Guy Bernard Parmelin (L) is welcome by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R) prior a bilateral meeting in the Berlaymont.
President of Switzerland Guy Bernard Parmelin (L) is welcome by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R) prior a bilateral meeting in the Berlaymont. (credit: THIERRY MONASSE/GETTY IMAGES)

The Palestinian Authority does not exercise unified and effective state authority over the entire territory

“Recognizing Palestine in the current situation would send a problematic signal,” said Erich Vontobel of the Swiss People’s Party, Zurich. “Gaza remains under Hamas control. Hamas opposes peace, openly seeks Israel’s destruction, and is classified by Switzerland as a terrorist organization.

“Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority does not exercise unified and effective state authority over the entire territory.”

Furthermore, the majority of the committee also believes recognition now would “run counter to Swiss neutrality and jeopardize Switzerland’s role as mediator in seeking peace.”

It therefore concluded that it is currently too early for Switzerland to recognize Palestine, but that this does not call into question support for a two-state system in the longer term.

The decision matches the upper house's stance and follows a public initiative in October 2025, as 148 UN members already recognize Palestine, while Switzerland backs a two-state solution only if it includes viable statehood.