More than 100 former French and British diplomats have warned that Palestine is being erased before the world’s eyes, and are calling for urgent measures—including bans on trade and arms sales—to pressure Israel into accepting a Palestinian state.
In an unprecedented joint letter, the diplomats drop diplomatic caution and accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing, adding that the world no longer views Israel as a true democracy.
The letter points out that Britain and France helped shape the modern Middle East and that both countries recognized Palestine as a state in 2025. Because of this, the diplomats argue, their nations now have a duty “to make common cause on the region’s fundamental fault line – equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.”
The letter, addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, has been signed by 52 former French diplomats and 50 former British ambassadors. Many of them served in senior roles across the Middle East, including in Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, Israel, Syria, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Among the British signatories are two former ambassadors to the UN, Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry, as well as Edward Chaplin, a former Middle East director at the Foreign Office. French signatories include Patrice Paoli, a former Middle East director at the French foreign ministry, and Stanislas de Laboulaye, a former consul general in Jerusalem.
The letter, shared with the Guardian and Le Monde, was published two days after the UK, France, and nine other countries condemned Israel’s announcement of construction tenders for the E1 settlement project. They said the proposed housing “will take Israel further from peace and undermine its international standing.”
That statement did not include any clear threat of consequences, aside from warning businesses in their countries not to take part in bidding, since investing in an unlawful settlement could carry legal and reputational risks.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called the tenders for 1,200 homes—which would cut through the West Bank—a destructive threat to the viability of a two-state solution. He also summoned Israel’s most senior diplomat currently in the UK, Chargée d’Affaires Daniela Grudsky Ekstein.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar vowed that Israel would not stay passive, saying, “The Jewish people have a right to live throughout Israel just as British people have a right to live throughout the UK.”
The former diplomats hope their letter will push Macron and Burnham to impose specific penalties on Israel in order to keep the two-state solution alive.
Diplomatic efforts around Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza have largely been handed over to talks between Israel and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and envoy. But Israel has rejected the latest 15-point US-led peace plan for Gaza, drawing criticism from eight Muslim countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Israel’s closest Muslim ally. They said Israel’s actions “fundamentally undermine the collective efforts undertaken to achieve a just and lasting peace.”
There has been internal debate among diplomats over whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using military and political provocations to provoke other countries into retaliation, which could boost his chances in elections scheduled for October 27.
The former diplomats argue that the long-overdue recognition of Palestine “needs to be made real by urgent action to safeguard the Palestinian right to self-determination,” especially as the Israeli government seeks to destroy any prospect of an independent Palestinian state, showing contempt for the law, the rulings of the International Court of Justice, and countless UN Security Council resolutions.They write: “Our governments care about the security of the Israeli people, just as they are horrified by the suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation. Hamas committed terrible crimes on 7 October 2023, but nothing justifies Israel’s systematic policy of destroying Gaza and its population. Mr Netanyahu’s claim that Israel must live by the sword is morally wrong and counterproductive. It endangers Israel’s security and leaves no room for negotiation. As a result, the world no longer sees Israel as a true democracy – there is nothing democratic about depriving others of their rights and land.”
“In Gaza, 2 million Palestinians are confined to 30% of their devastated land, hungry, and lacking medicine and housing. Over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the so-called ‘ceasefire’. In East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank, Palestinian house demolitions and rampant settler violence – with the backing of the Israeli army and police – amount to ethnic cleansing. Palestine is being erased before our eyes. This policy of occupation and destruction extends to Lebanon – where many villages have been razed – and Syria. It is a stain on the conscience of humanity, requiring the UK and France to act.”
They urge the two states to take seven policy steps:
– Uphold the decisions of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
– Suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement for breaching human rights provisions.
– Suspend arms transfers to and from Israel and all bilateral military cooperation.
– Insist on unrestricted aid access to Gaza, led by the UN Relief and Works Agency, other UN agencies, and international NGOs, with consequences for non-compliance, and also allow access for journalists, diplomats, and parliamentarians.
– Ban all trade with settlements, including goods, investment, insurance, and other financial services.
– Warn potential bidders for the “red line” E1 settlement or other settlement financing or construction that their interests in and with the UK and France will suffer.
– Make it an offence for British and French citizens to buy property on stolen Palestinian land and remove charitable status from “charities” that fund settlements.
The diplomats balance their criticism of Israel by saying Palestinians “have to ensure that the state recognised by over two-thirds of the world is democratic and law-abiding, despite the occupation. Gaza and the West Bank need to be reunited politically, administratively, and economically. Palestine’s political leadership is unrepresentative and dysfunctional. The elections in November [in Palestine] must lead to democratic renewal.”
But they argue: “While our two governments can do much to help Palestine become a fully functioning democratic nation, the focus needs to be on Israel’s determination to prevent that outcome.”
The Israeli embassy in London was contacted for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the statement from former British and French diplomats regarding Israels actions in Palestine
General Background Questions
1 What exactly are these diplomats accusing Israel of
They are accusing Israel of actions that amount to the erasure of Palestine In this context this usually refers to a combination of policies that undermine the possibility of a viable Palestinian state including the expansion of settlements in the West Bank the displacement of Palestinian communities and the ongoing conflict in Gaza
2 Who are these diplomats
They are former ambassadors high commissioners and senior officials from the UK and France who served in various capacities often in the Middle East They are not current government officials but their collective experience gives their statements weight They often operate as part of groups like the Council for ArabBritish Understanding or similar initiatives
3 What do they mean by the erasure of Palestine
Its a strong term used to describe a process they believe is leading to the disappearance of a distinct Palestinian identity and territory They argue that the physical expansion of Israeli settlements the demolition of Palestinian homes and the fragmentation of Palestinian land are making a future independent Palestinian state impossible
4 Why are they speaking out now
They are speaking out because they believe the situation has reached a critical tipping point They feel that the international community including their own governments is not doing enough to prevent what they see as a catastrophic outcome for the Palestinian people and for the prospects of a twostate solution
5 Is this a new opinion or have diplomats said this before
While individual diplomats have voiced concerns for years the collective and stark language of erasure has become more prominent especially since the Gaza war began in October 2023 The scale of destruction and civilian casualties has led many to conclude that more forceful international action is needed
The Call for Action
6 What specific actions are they asking for
Their calls usually include
Sanctions Imposing economic and travel sanctions on Israel
Arms Embargo Stopping the sale of weapons to Israel
Recognition Formally recognizing a State of Palestine
Accountability Referring Israeli leaders to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes
