Former Diplomats Urge UK and France to Apply Economic Pressure on Israel Over West Bank Settlements

More than 100 former diplomats from the UK and France have signed a joint letter urging their governments to 'act together' to halt Israel's expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. The letter, addressed to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, calls for the suspension of both the EU-Israel Association Agreement and Britain's trade agreement with Israel due to alleged breaches of human rights provisions.

The signatories also advocate for a ban on settlement trade, warning potential bidders for the E1 settlement project that their business interests will suffer. The letter emphasizes that recent recognition of the State of Palestine by France and the UK must be supported by urgent action to protect the right to self-determination against Israeli policies.

Furthermore, the letter calls for the criminalization of property purchases in illegal Israeli settlements within France and the UK, alongside the removal of charitable status from registered charities that fund these settlements. British signatories include Sir Vincent Fean, Sir William Patey, and Sir Jeremy Greenstock, while French signatories feature Charles-Henri d'Aragon, Bruno Aubert, and Marc Barety.

The diplomatic push follows Israel's recent launch of tenders for the E1 settlement project, a move that threatens to divide the West Bank from East Jerusalem. In response, Mr Burnham and leaders from 18 western countries, alongside the European Commission, issued warnings regarding the legal and reputational risks for businesses considering bidding on the construction tenders.