French call on Macron to suspend military cooperation with Israel

PARIS, Oct. 30 (YPA) – Members of the Association of Lawyers for Respect of International Law called on President Emmanuel Macron, in an open letter, to suspend military cooperation with the Israeli occupation and halt the export of weapons used by Israel in the genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The letter referred to the French president’s call last year to stop supplying weapons to Israel, which it said was not accompanied by any effective measures to end the transfer, export, or transshipment of weapons that could be used in military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The association pointed out that “this inaction comes at a time when the International Court of Justice has repeatedly recognized the possibility that Israel has committed the crime of genocide and has reaffirmed the binding obligations of all States Parties to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”

It noted that France is exposing itself to violation of its mandatory obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty, the Genocide Convention, and the Geneva Conventions, which require respect for and application of international humanitarian law in all circumstances.

The association called on Macron to take a decision to “immediately prohibit any authorization for the transfer, export, transit, or transshipment of weapons, ammunition, spare parts, components, technologies, and dual-use goods destined for Israel, and to suspend all forms of military, security, financial, or scientific cooperation with this state and the arms companies that support it.”.

It demanded a review of public policies and cooperation with Israel to ensure that it does not provide any support or assistance for the crime of genocide, and the use of France’s influence to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, in accordance with Article 2 thereof.