PARIS: Dozens of former senior French and UK diplomats on Saturday (Aug 22) urged their governments to work collectively to uphold worldwide legislation within the Palestinian territories, accusing Israel of looking for to “destroy” any prospect of a viable Palestinian state.
The 102 signatories of the letter printed in Le Monde included former British ambassadors to the UN Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry, as effectively the previous administrators for the Center East on the French overseas ministry Yves Aubin de la Messuziere and Denis Bauchard.
They mentioned the involvement of France and the UK was important given the historic roles of the 2 powers within the Center East and the truth that each everlasting members of the UN Safety Council in 2025 recognised a Palestinian state.
“Our two nations consider that these accountable for conflict crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity should be held to account. Solely then can our governments rebut the accusation of double requirements. That’s the reason they need to act collectively to uphold worldwide legislation in Palestine,” mentioned the letter.
It accused Israel of looking for “to destroy any prospect of an unbiased Palestinian state, exhibiting contempt for the legislation, the rulings of the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice and numerous UN Safety Council resolutions”.
Israel launched a army marketing campaign on the Palestinian territory of Gaza following the Oct 7, 2023 assault by militant group Hamas in opposition to Israel.
Violence within the West Financial institution, occupied by Israel since 1967, has surged for the reason that Gaza conflict started, sparking worldwide concern over the conduct of Israeli troops and settlers.
France and Britain this week joined different international locations in releasing an announcement condemning the Israeli authorities’s launch of latest tenders for development within the occupied West Financial institution.
The letter mentioned home demolitions and “rampant settler violence – with the connivance of the Israeli military and police” in annexed east Jerusalem and the West Financial institution amounted to “ethnic cleaning”.
“The world now not sees Israel as a real democracy – there’s nothing democratic about depriving others of their rights and land,” mentioned the letter.
