Jean-Daniel Ruch was the Swiss ambassador to Israel for five years. We spoke to him for one last interview, where he looks back on his time in the country as well as thinks about the future of Israel …
The interview was conducted by Katharina Höftmann Ciobotaru
Israel Between the Lines (BTL): Mr. Ambassador, you have been in Israel for five years, more precisely in Tel Aviv, and now you are ending your service here. What will you miss the most?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: The sea, our embassy is almost exactly on the beach, I will miss that. Beyond that, I will especially miss the freedom to think creatively that exists in Tel Aviv. The innovation, the imagination, the energy that is so unique to this city.
BTL: You have certainly seen a lot in five years, and you have launched many projects. Which one are you particularly proud of?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: I think we have achieved a lot, especially in the area of bilateral cooperation in science and innovation. Together with our innovation consultant, David Biegeleisen, I created an interface for these collaborations – we were able to organize more than 50 different events with more than 5,000 participants. In addition, we were able to take on a kind of patronage for Israeli-Palestinian cooperation in the field of innovation: I particularly appreciated the cooperation with “ Tech2Peace ”, “ 50:50 Startups ” and the “ Palestinian Internship Program ”.
The traditional ways to peace have failed
BTL: Can projects like this create peace?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: I firmly believe in that. The traditional ways have so far failed, but with joint projects that have a clear goal such as innovation or environmental protection, Israelis and Palestinians can find each other. Our embassy is a neutral place, as a patron, reduces many fears and skepticism. With our project to save the coral reef in the Red Sea, we are also bringing Israel together with other neighboring countries. Over the next four years, scientists will be looking for ways to better protect the coral reef on the Swiss sailing boat “Fleur de Passion”.
BTL: Israel has a very diverse population. Is there an encounter that particularly shaped you?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: Yes, even three: First of all, there is an ultra-Orthodox rabbi and businessman, Isaac Shapira, who has a lot of business in Switzerland, which is why I came into contact with him. He opened a door to the world of the Charedim for me. This highly religious life was completely alien to me and through him, one of the most inspiring leaders of this community, I was able to learn a lot about how people try to reconcile religious life in the yeshiva with employability.
The second encounter was with a young founder from Gaza, Majd Mashharawi. She is only 27 years old and has already founded two companies: one turns rubble into bricks for building, the other produces solar-powered batteries. Both of these are incredibly important start-ups for a better life there. Mashharawi kept needing permits to leave Gaza to advance their startups, so I’m glad I was able to help.
And the third person I admire very much is Alfonso Nussbaumer. A very extraordinary personality. He is 82 and was the honorary consul of Switzerland in Eilat until five years ago. He knows the desert better than a Bedouin and the sea better than any diver. He is a cook, tour guide, archaeologist, and adventurer. I learned a lot from him.
Israel is a super dynamic country
BTL: Life in Israel is not always easy, what will you definitely not miss?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: Honestly? The chutzpah, which I valued very much at times, but which sometimes pushed me to my limits in other moments.
BTL: In Israel, for the first time in twelve years, a new government has been in power for a few weeks. The country is constantly changing, how do you see Israel’s development and future?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: I think there are a few parameters that will determine that. On the one hand, Israel is a super dynamic country. Tel Aviv is and will remain a real powerhouse, comparable to Silicon Valley, with cities like London or Paris. But Israel is also extremely small and many Israelis orientate themselves abroad, the country is losing valuable heads here. Then there is the situation with the neighbors. The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates is a great success, but peace with the direct neighbors would be much more important. We also saw during the last military conflict that Israel experienced a lot of violence between the country’s Jewish and Arab citizens in the mixed cities. Something has to be done urgently.
BTL: Your next stop is Ankara in Turkey. What are you taking with you from Israel?
Jean-Daniel Ruch: Projects like our initiative “ Wake up – Diplomacy Towards a Healthy Future ”, in which scientists use a multidisciplinary approach to discuss and research problems of the future. This idea, which functions as part of the Swiss “science diplomacy”, in addition to the classic strategies of foreign diplomacy, was set up and developed by employees of our embassy in Tel Aviv – it is very Israeli with its innovative strength.
