Call for respect for international law in the Palestinian territories

Dozens of former French and British diplomats have called on their governments to uphold international law in the Palestinian territories. The letter, published today in the French newspaper Le Monde, was signed by 102 individuals, including former ambassadors and officials with extensive experience in Middle East affairs. They argue that France and Britain’s role in the region and their status as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council make their commitment to upholding international law indispensable. The signatories emphasized that those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held accountable, and therefore, they urged both nations to act together to preserve international law in the Palestinian territories. The letter criticizes Israeli actions, particularly the continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which the signers describe as “lawless settler violence” supported by the Israeli military and police. They accuse Israel of undermining prospects for an independent Palestinian state and show little regard for rulings by the International Court of Justice and numerous resolutions passed by the UN Security Council. Among the signatories are former British ambassadors to the United Nations, Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry, as well as former directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for France, Yves Aubin de la Messuziere and Denis Bauchard. Since 1967, the West Bank has been under Israeli occupation. The area is home to approximately three million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israeli settlers, whose settlements are considered illegal under international law. Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has significantly accelerated settlement construction in the West Bank. Since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by the radical Islamist organization Hamas on Israel, tensions in the West Bank have intensified, with extremist settlers frequently targeting the Palestinian population. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also condemned Israel’s plans for the “E1” settlement project in the occupied West Bank. She criticized the Israeli government’s decision to publish building permits for the project, calling it unacceptable. Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, and Canada had previously jointly denounced the plan and demanded its reversal. In a statement released by the German government, these countries warned that expanding settlements in the West Bank would further distance a peace agreement and damage Israel’s international standing. On Tuesday evening, the Israeli Ministry of Housing announced the release of tenders for the construction of more than 1,200 residential units for the “E1” project, located between East Jerusalem and the settlement of Maale Adumim. Building in this area would effectively divide the West Bank into northern and southern parts, making the creation of a contiguous territory for a future Palestinian state increasingly difficult or even impossible. The seven states issued a warning to businesses considering applying for the tenders, cautioning them about the legal and reputational consequences, including the risk of involvement in serious violations of international law. International law clearly states that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are unlawful. This position is shared by the international community, reinforced by the United Nations Security Council. As the situation continues to evolve, the pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion grows stronger, with growing concern among key global actors over the implications for regional stability and the prospects for a lasting peace.