Former French prime minister calls for 'isolating' Israel to prevent 'ethnic cleansing'

Former French prime minister Dominique de Villepin urged the West on Tuesday to "economically and strategically isolate" Israel to oppose the goal of "deporting" the population of Gaza.

"We are facing an Israeli plan ... After the reoccupation of Gaza, the second step will be deportation. The political objective of Benjamin Netanyahu and his government is the deportation of the population of Gaza, which is the hallmark of ethnic cleansing, of territorial cleansing," Dominique de Villepin told France Info radio.

He added: "The Europeans know this perfectly well, and they are there with wooden swords, even though there are three things that must be done immediately."

First, "immediately suspend the European agreement with Israel. Most of Israel's trade is with Europe. Second, impose an arms embargo on all European countries. Third, refer the entire Israeli government and key Israeli military authorities to the International Criminal Court ... by writing collectively to the court," he proposed.

"If you want to stop what is happening today, you must make it clear to Israel that there will be a before and an after," he added.