Former envoys urge joint French, UK action on Palestinian territories

Dozens of former senior French and UK diplomats urged their governments on Saturday to jointly uphold international law in the Palestinian territories.

The 102 signatories, published in an open letter in Le Monde, accused Israel of seeking to destroy any prospect of a viable Palestinian state.

Who signed the letter on Palestinian territories?

The letter's 102 signatories included former British ambassadors to the UN Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry, alongside former French foreign ministry Middle East directors Yves Aubin de la Messuziere and Denis Bauchard.

They argued France and the UK must act together, given their historic roles in the Middle East and their 2025 recognition of a Palestinian state as permanent UN Security Council members.

What does the letter say about accountability?

"Our two nations believe that those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held to account. Only then can our governments rebut the accusation of double standards. That is why they must act together to uphold international law in Palestine," the letter said.

It accused Israel of seeking to destroy any prospect of an independent Palestinian state, showing contempt for the law, International Court of Justice rulings, and numerous UN Security Council resolutions. The signatories framed accountability as central to restoring credibility for both France and the UK.

What is the background to the letter?

Israel launched a military campaign in the Palestinian territory of Gaza after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack. Violence in the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has surged since the Gaza war began, prompting international concern over the conduct of Israeli troops and settlers.

France and Britain this week joined other countries in condemning the Israeli government's release of new tenders for construction in the occupied West Bank. The letter followed this joint statement and built on existing diplomatic pressure over settlement expansion.

What does the letter say about the West Bank and Jerusalem?

The letter said house demolitions and rampant settler violence, carried out with the connivance of the Israeli army and police, in annexed east Jerusalem and the West Bank amounted to ethnic cleansing. The signatories linked this directly to their call for joint French-UK accountability measures.

"The world no longer sees Israel as a genuine democracy. There is nothing democratic about depriving others of their rights and land," the letter said.