In their first joint visit to the Middle East in a decade, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné and British Foreign Minister David Lammy stressed the need to avoid a regional war in the area.
The two officials, visiting Israel and later the Palestinian territories, emphasized the importance of peace and stability during a press conference in Jerusalem on Friday.
Speaking alongside his British counterpart, Séjourné condemned the recent attacks by Israeli settlers on the Palestinian village of Qit in the West Bank.
Lammy echoed this sentiment, calling the violence by settlers “unacceptable” and noting its negative impact on ceasefire negotiations.
Lammy also announced that Israel has committed to investigating the settlers involved in the violent incidents, particularly those that occurred overnight on Thursday.
The joint visit was described as positive by both ministers, who highlighted the importance of ongoing dialogue with Israeli officials.
Following his meetings with the French and British foreign ministers, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel expects its allies to support it in targeting key objectives in Iran should Israel come under attack.
Katz emphasized that Israel expects France and the UK to send a clear and public message to Iran, warning against any aggression toward Israel.
He added that in the event of an Iranian attack, the U.S.-led coalition would not only defend Israel but also strike significant targets within Iran.
Earlier in the day, the French Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for a diplomatic resolution that would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and restore calm along the Israel-Lebanon border. Both Paris and London expressed their support for American, Egyptian, and Qatari mediation efforts and urged all parties to avoid a regional war, which could have catastrophic consequences.
Prior to his arrival in Jerusalem, Lammy acknowledged the sensitivity of the current situation in the Middle East, describing it as a “dangerous moment.” He warned that the risk of the situation spiraling out of control is increasing and that any Iranian attack on Israel would have severe repercussions for the region.
This visit and the accompanying warnings come amid heightened tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in southern Beirut in late July. Both Hezbollah and Iran have vowed to retaliate against Israel, promising a painful response.
Additionally, the visit coincides with a rise in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has escalated significantly over the past year and has further deteriorated since the outbreak of war in Gaza on October 7th.
According to official Palestinian statistics, at least 633 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank since the war began.
