Former diplomats urge UK and France to restrict trade with Israel over settlements

More than 100 former British and French diplomats have sent a joint letter to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, urging London and Paris to take collective action against Israel's settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The signatories are calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and Britain's trade agreement with Israel, citing breaches of human rights provisions. The letter further proposes criminalising the purchase of homes in illegal Israeli settlements within the UK and France, and stripping charitable status from organisations that fund such settlements. The diplomats argue that Israel is showing contempt for international law and rulings by the International Court of Justice, effectively seeking to destroy the prospect of an independent Palestinian state. Notable signatories include Sir Vincent Fean, former British consul general in Jerusalem, and Sir Jeremy Greenstock, former British ambassador to the UN. The appeal follows Israel's recent launch of a tender for the E1 settlement project, which critics warn would sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem. Last week, Prime Minister Burnham joined leaders from 18 Western nations and the European Commission in issuing a warning to businesses, cautioning them of the legal and reputational risks associated with bidding for construction tenders in these areas.