Swiss Ambassador to Israel Summoned in Wake of Gas Deal with Iran
(Communicated by the Foreign Ministry Spokesman)

Swiss Ambassador to Israel Walter Haffner, who presented his credentials to
President Shimon Peres this morning (Wednesday), 19.3.08, was summoned to a
meeting with Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General for Western Europe
Rafi Barak. The summons follows Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey'
s recent visit to Iran in order to sign a gas agreement.

Deputy Dir.-Gen. Barak told Ambassador Haffner that Israel regrets the
Foreign Minister's trip to Iran and views it as an unfriendly act. He added
that in the wake of UN Security Council Resolution #1803
( http://tinyurl.com/39w6dg ) and at a time when the international community
is working for Iran to shelve its nuclear program, Israel believes that this
is not the appropriate time to advance economic deals with Iran.

Iran is continuing with its nuclear program ( http://tinyurl.com/2hk4mw ),
aids extremist organizations, supports terrorism
( http://tinyurl.com/ywd8cv ), tramples human rights
( http://tinyurl.com/2os2pu ) and denies an independent UN member state's
right to exist, while displaying anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel.

Switzerland and the entire international community are aware of the danger
posed by Iran. Israel expects Switzerland to join the international effort
on this issue.