Switzerland and Israel are part of European history, and Europe and its history are also part of the conflict in the Middle East. Therefore, the perceptions of Israel in Switzerland - and vice versa - as well as the relationships between the two small states are shaped by European and Middle Eastern history. These relationships date back fifty years before the founding of the State of Israel. Even in the early years of the Zionist movement at the end of the 19th century, there was a close bond between Switzerland and the Jewish national aspirations, which later influenced the relationship between the two states. Based on this background, the author describes the relationships between Switzerland and Israel in chronological order, the evolution of Israel's image, as well as the image of Israel in Switzerland within a historical context. The Middle East conflict in all its stages and facets.