Former French and British Diplomats Urge Governments to Take Action Against Israel

More than 100 former French and British diplomats have signed a joint letter urging their governments to take concrete steps to protect the possibility of an independent Palestinian state. The letter, published in Le Monde and reported by The Guardian, was addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The signatories include 52 former French diplomats and 50 former British ambassadors, including former UN envoys Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry. The group argues that France and the UK, both of which recognized Palestine as a state in 2025, have a responsibility to uphold international law. The diplomats accuse Israel of seeking to destroy the prospect of a viable Palestinian state and describe house demolitions and settler violence in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as ethnic cleansing. They further state that the world no longer views Israel as a genuine democracy. To pressure Israel, the signatories call for the suspension of the EU Israel Association Agreement and the British Israeli trade and partnership agreement, as well as a stop to arms sales and military cooperation. The letter also suggests warning companies that their interests in France and the UK could suffer if they participate in the E1 settlement project in the West Bank. While the diplomats condemn the Israeli government's actions, they also explicitly condemn the crimes committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. In response to similar criticisms regarding settlement tenders, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated that the Jewish people have a right to live throughout Israel. Center left sources emphasize the urgency of the diplomats' demands for trade and arms bans, while center sources focus more on the appeal for the respect of international law and the historical roles of the two powers in the region.