Former diplomats, ambassadors warn incoming government will harm Israel

More than 100 former Israeli diplomats and ambassadors sign a letter to incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of damage to Israel’s standing if the new government implements its hard-right policies.

The signatories express “profound concern at the serious damage to Israel’s foreign relations, its international standing and its core interests abroad emanating from what will apparently be the policy of the incoming government,” they write in the letter in both Hebrew and English.

They note fears of the government’s actions in the West Bank and the passing of discriminatory laws and damage to free speech and democracy in Israel.

The letter warns that the backlash could harm Israel’s alliance with the US and undo the progress of the Abraham Accords normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.

They also warn Israel could face sanctions and prosecution in international courts.

מעל 100 שגרירי ישראל לשעבר ברחבי העולם במכתב לנתניהו: ״אנחנו חוששים שההתפתחויות האחרונות בזירת הפנים תגרורנה תגובה בינלאומית קשה״. והם מפרסמים את הדברים גם באנגלית. בין החותמים שגרירים לשעבר בהודו, טורקיה, קונסולים ברחבי ארה״ב ועוד. pic.twitter.com/hKB8t6p2UP

— ‏Tal Schneider טל שניידר تال شنايدر (@talschneider) December 28, 2022