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Ex-diplomats urge France, UK to take tougher line on Israel
🇩🇪 Germany /Conflict & Security

Ex-diplomats urge France, UK to take tougher line on Israel

From Der Spiegel · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Dozens of former French and British diplomats have sent an open letter to their leaders, criticizing current Middle East policies.
  • They accuse Israel of destroying the possibility of an independent Palestinian state and call for concrete actions to prevent this.
  • The diplomats condemn Hamas's actions but state they do not justify Israel's systematic destruction of Gaza and its population, calling for an end to settlement expansion.

A group of former French and British diplomats has issued a strong public letter to their respective leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Andy Burnham, expressing deep concern over their governments' Middle East policies. The diplomats accuse Israel of systematically dismantling the prospects for an independent Palestinian state and are urging their governments to take decisive action to prevent further erosion of Palestinian self-determination.

Palestine is being wiped out before the eyes of the world.

— Former French and British DiplomatsDescribing the perceived destruction of Palestinian statehood in their open letter.

The letter, reported by The Guardian and Le Monde, details the signatories' view that Israeli actions, including home demolitions and settler violence in the West Bank, amount to "ethnic cleansing." Regarding Gaza, they highlight the dire situation of two million Palestinians confined to 30 percent of the territory, facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and housing.

The destruction of homes and settler violence in the West Bank is tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

— Former French and British DiplomatsCharacterizing Israeli actions in the West Bank in their letter.

While unequivocally condemning the October 7 attacks by Hamas, the former diplomats assert that these actions do not legitimize Israel's "systematic policy of destruction" in Gaza and against its population. They specifically challenge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertion that Israel must "live by the sword," deeming it morally flawed and counterproductive to Israel's own security.

Nothing justifies Israel's systematic policy of destruction of the Gaza Strip and its population.

— Former French and British DiplomatsStating their position on Israel's actions in Gaza, despite condemning Hamas.

The signatories, who previously served in various diplomatic roles across the Middle East, are calling for concrete measures. These include suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, halting arms supplies and military cooperation with Israel, and ensuring unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza. They also specifically target the planned E1 settlement project east of Jerusalem, warning companies involved that their interests in the UK and France could be jeopardized.

Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that Israel must 'live by the sword' is morally wrong and counterproductive. It ultimately endangers Israel's security.

— Former French and British DiplomatsCritiquing the Israeli Prime Minister's rhetoric and its implications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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