As of March 6, 2016, no response had been received.

January 11, 2015

Dear Dear Ambassador Andreas Baum,

On January 8, 2015, an Israeli investigative news program (“Uvda”, Channel 2) aired footage of an employee of the Israeli NGO “B’Tselem,” Nasser Nawaja, speaking with Ezra Nawi, an activist with a different NGO (“Ta’ayush”). They discussed informing the Palestinian Authority security services about a Palestinian man with alleged interest in selling land in the West Bank to Jews.
As seen in the video, on Nawaja’s instructions, Nawi collected documents from the Palestinian land broker and then scheduled additional meetings with the intent that PA security services would apprehend the suspect.

The sale of Palestinian land to Israelis is punishable by death under Palestinian Authority law, and according to Nawi, suspects are tortured and then killed for this alleged crime.

Following the broadcast, B’Tselem issued a statement that justified reporting an alleged land broker to the PA, presumably for torture and execution, as “the only legitimate course of action for Palestinians.”

Embassy of Switzerland is listed as one of B’Tselem’s funders in 2014 and 2015 through, “the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat ” and Supporting communities at risk blog.
In light of the involvement of a B’Tselem employee and the response issued by the NGO, please respond to the following questions:
1. Is Embassy of Switzerland conducting an investigation into this incident?

2. Does (Name of Donor) view these activities and statements as consistent with Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat ” and Supporting communities at risk blog?

3. Will Embassy of Switzerland review its support for B’Tselem, as well as the decision making processes that allowed funding to this organization?

We are planning to publish a report on funding for B’Tselem in light of the allegations aired on Channel 2, and request your responses and any other comments no later than Friday, January 15, 2016.

We look forward to further discussion with you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Shaun Sacks