Israel balks at Swiss government funding for exhibit by Israeli leftist group

‘Israel has formally complained to the Swiss government over its funding for an exhibit by an Israeli NGO that alleges misconduct by Israeli soldiers in their dealings with Palestinians.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry gave some $16,000 to the Breaking the Silence exhibit that opened in Zurich on Thursday, the French news agency AFP reported. Other funding came from the Zurich municipality and church groups.

Swiss government officials defended the ministry’s funding of the exhibit.

“We thought long and hard before giving this money,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Patrick Pons told AFP, calling the exhibit “very balanced” and saying it would increase dialogue about human rights.’

Read more: Israel balks at Swiss government funding for exhibit by Israeli leftist group