Berne, Switzerland. (Photo: Diego Grandi/Shutterstock)
While Spain, Ireland, and Norway have all given formal recognition to a Palestinian state, Switzerland rejected a proposal to do so in exchange for the release of the hostages, by a vote of 131 to 61, according to JNS.
The Swiss Foreign Minister said that his country supports a two-state solution, however, "the Federal Council does not believe that the time is right to recognise Palestine."
Australia's parliament also rejected a proposal to recognize a state of Palestine by 80 to 5 last week.