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Relations between Switzerland and Israel have been strained in recent months after Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz (L) received Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in April at an anti-racism conference in Geneva.
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JERUSALEM (AFP-EJP)---Israel voiced its fury at Switzerland on Wednesday after its diplomats met a delegation from the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on the sidelines of a conference last month.
"We are angry, since Hamas is still considered as a terrorist organisation by the European Union, even if Switzerland is not an EU member," foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
"By officially receiving a Hamas delegation, Switzerland is not placing itself among those who support moderation," he said.
Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Swiss diplomats had met a Hamas delegation led by Mahmud Zahar, a co-founder of Hamas and leader in the Gaza Strip, in Geneva in June during a research institute conference.
Contrary to the EU, Switzerland does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization sworn to the destruction of Israel.
Relations between Switzerland and Israel have been strained in recent months after Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz received Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in April at the "Durban II" UN anti-racism conference in Geneva.
The Iranian president has triggered outrage with his repeated calls for Israel to be "wiped off the map" and his questioning of the extent of the Holocaust.
Shortly after the meeting Israel recalled its ambassador, Ilan Elgar, for consultation and to express the Jewish state's displeasure over the meeting.
As Switzerland is a neutral country, its diplomats argue they must keep communication channels open with all parties.