Key facts
- Over 100 former British and French diplomats signed a letter urging action against Israel.
- The diplomats accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing and the 'erasure' of Palestine.
- They call for bans on trade with settlements and arms sales to Israel.
- The letter states Britain and France recognized Palestine as a state in 2025.
- Diplomats demand upholding international court decisions and suspending EU-Israel and UK-Israel trade agreements.
- Unrestricted aid access to Gaza and a ban on buying property on Palestinian land are also demanded.
More than 100 former British and French diplomats have issued a joint letter accusing Israel of the 'erasure' of Palestine and calling for urgent action, including bans on trade and arms sales, to compel Israel to accept a Palestinian state. The letter, addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing and warns that the world no longer views it as a genuine democracy. The signatories, including 52 French and 50 British former diplomats, argue that their countries, having recognized Palestine as a state in 2025, have a responsibility to act. They contend that Israel's actions, including planned construction in the E1 settlement area, undermine the viability of a two-state solution and demonstrate contempt for international law. The letter follows a recent statement by the UK, France, and nine other countries condemning Israeli construction tenders for the E1 settlement. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the tenders as destructive, summoning the Israeli chargé d'affaires in response. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar vowed that Israel would not remain passive. The diplomats propose seven specific policy steps for the UK and France: upholding international court decisions, suspending EU-Israel and UK-Israel trade agreements for human rights violations, banning arms transfers and military cooperation, insisting on unrestricted aid access to Gaza, banning trade with settlements, warning bidders for settlement projects, and making it an offense for citizens to buy property on Palestinian land. While criticizing Israel, the diplomats also stressed the need for Palestinians to ensure their recognized state is democratic and law-abiding, calling for the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank and democratic renewal in Palestinian leadership. However, they concluded that the primary focus must be on Israel's determination to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that London and Paris are making a “deliberate choice” to participate and collaborate in crimes committed by Israel by “continuing to send” it weapons and “provide any kind of support”, urging them not to hide behind “expressing concern”.