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British diplomats reported for wearing T-shirts with maps erasing Israel

U.K. Lawyers for Israel says the move violates the Diplomatic Service Code, which states that, “You must not: allow your personal political views to determine any advice you give or your actions.”

British diplomats participate in the "Palestine Marathon" wearing t-shirts featuring a map of “Palestine” extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively wiping out Israel, March 10, 2023. Source: Twitter.
British diplomats participate in the “Palestine Marathon” wearing t-shirts featuring a map of “Palestine” extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively wiping out Israel, March 10, 2023. Source: Twitter.

UK Lawyers for Israel has reported British diplomats stationed in Jerusalem for potential breaches of the Diplomatic Service Code, after they sported T-shirts featuring a map of “Palestine” extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively wiping out Israel.

The diplomats wore the jerseys during the March 10 “Palestine Marathon,” which was hosted by top Fatah official Jibril Rajoub, who has a long history of support for terrorism and comparing Israelis with Nazis.

The UK Lawyers for Israel reported the officials to the Consular Directorate of U.K.’s Foreign Office last week and requested they be reprimanded.

According to the organization, Clause 13 of the British Diplomatic Service Code states: “You must not: act in a way that unjustifiably favors or discriminates against particular individuals or interests.”

Clause 15 states: “You must not: allow your personal political views to determine any advice you give or your actions.”

We believe that the diplomatic representatives who were wearing the T-shirt were in breach of the Diplomatic Service Code given that they wore a logo deleting Israel and openly supported an event run by someone with a long history of support for terrorism and who apparently detests Jews and Zionists,” said Caroline Turner, chief executive of UK Lawyers for Israel.

The British government officially supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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