Trump peace deal ‘evokes chilling associations’ with apartheid South Africa
Former Foreign Office ministers sign open letter from other politicians criticising the 'Deal Of The Century'
Seven former Foreign Office ministers have signed an open letter from politicians across Europe saying Donald Trump’s proposed Middle East peace deal “evokes chilling associations” with apartheid era South Africa.
The senior British contingent spans three decades of government and includes two former Middle East ministers, a former foreign secretary and a former European Commissioner.
The seven, including Douglas Alexander, Ben Bradshaw, Alan Duncan, Peter Hain and Jack Straw all signed the letter calling on Europe “to reject [it] as a basis for negotiations and take immediate and effective steps to counter the threat of annexation – and thereby preserve the international rules-based order”.
They were joined by former prime ministers and presidents from Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Luxembourg and France, alongside a former NATO secretary-general, a former president of the European Commission, and two former UN special coordinators for the Middle East peace process.
“[Trump’s] Peace to Prosperity is not a roadmap to a viable two-state solution, nor to any other legitimate solution to the conflict,” they wrote.
“The plan envisages a formalisation of the current reality in the occupied Palestinian territory, in which two peoples are living side by side without equal rights. Such an outcome has characteristics similar to apartheid – a term we don’t use lightly.”
They added that the plan “projects a future Palestinian ‘state’ without control and sovereignty over fragmented territory” and said the map featured in the plan “proposes Palestinian enclaves under permanent Israeli military control, which evoke chilling associations with South Africa’s bantustans”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
