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Former UK diplomats urge Starmer and Macron to recognise Palestinian state

7 July 2025 13:24 BST

A group of 26 former British diplomats has written a letter to the Times newspaper urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron to recognise a Palestinian state.

The letter has been signed by former British ambassadors to numerous Middle Eastern countries, including Sir Dominick Chilcott, a former ambassador to Turkey, Peter Millett, a former ambassador to Libya and Lord Andrew Green, who was ambassador to Saudi Arabia. 

The Times published the letter on Monday morning, although the headline of the letters page online was about how "tech-free 'cloisters' can help young minds".

Signatories to the letter on recognising Palestine also include Sir William Patey, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, as well as Peter Jenkins, Sir Jeremy Greenstock and Lord David Hannay, three former ambassadors to the United Nations.

Macron is set to visit the UK on Tuesday.

Read more: Former UK diplomats urge Starmer and Macron to recognise Palestinian state

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's President Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, 16 June 2025 (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and France's President Emmanuel Macron during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit, in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, 16 June 2025 (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)